Causes
It is presumed to be an autoimmune reaction (immune reaction against body’s own cells) resulting in a demyelinating (the myelin sheath covering nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord are destroyed) inflammation of the nerve, hence the nerve conduction is delayed. Nerve conduction may also be reduced if there is inflammatory destruction of the nerve fibres.
Causes of optic neuritis are:
- Typical form or optic neuritis caused by demyelinating diseases like multiple sclerosis or neuromyelitis optica.
- Other forms of optic neuropathy:
- Infections: Viral, bacterial, syphilis, lyme disease, sinusitis
- After vaccination
- Autoimmune diseases: Systemic lupus erythematosis, vasculitis
- Drugs: Ethambutol (anti TB drug)
- Toxins: tobacco, methyl alcohol
- Ischemia: Ischemic optic neuropathy
- Compression or infiltration
- Miscellaneous
