Optic Neuritis is the term used to describe the swelling of the optic nerve and usually affects only one eye. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is often associated with optic neuritis. It is associated so much that optic neuritis is often diagnosed before a patient learns that they have MS.

Signs and Symptoms
sudden onset of decreased vision
soreness or pain when moving the eye (most patients)
dull color perception
fever, nausea, or headache

Diagnosis
While a dilated fundus exam will be performed, the doctor will rely on other indicators for a diagnosis including the patient's symptoms, pupil light reaction, visual field tests, color vision tests, and MRI scans.

Treatment
For acute optic neuritis, intravenous and oral steroids as well as Interferon may be given to lessen the risks of recurrences or subsequent development of MS. However, once optic neuritis is established there is no effective treatment. Recovery may take days to weeks while some patients may take months.

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