An Optic Neuritis attack is often an invisible event, symptoms are either not noticed,
or simply dismissed.
Subsequent Visual Evoked Potential (VEP) testing always registers prior damage, as
slowed response times. This finding can be used to fulfil MS's diagnostic requirement
of a previous attack.
Optic Neuritis is very common in many, but not all, and usually occurs in only one
eye at a time. It is one of the first diagnosable signs that you may have Multiple
Sclerosis.
When inflammation involves the first part of the nerve and can be seen at the optic
disk, usually during the course of an eye examination, it is known as Optic Papillitis.
This may cause colours to appear washed-out or faded and bright lights generally
make seeing difficult, even when there are good colour contrasts.
Optic Neuritis in Multiple Sclerosis -Up to 50% of those with MS will develop an
episode of optic neuritis while 20% of the time optic neuritis is the presenting
sign of MS .
The presence of demyelinating white matter lesions on brain MRI at the time of presentation
of optic neuritis is the strongest predictor for developing clinically definite MS.
Almost half of the those with optic neuritis have white matter lesions consistent
with multiple sclerosis.
At five years follow-up, the overall risk of developing MS is 30%, with or without
MRI lesions.
16% of those with a normal MRI still develop MS but at a lower rate compared to 51%
of those with three or more MRI lesions.
44% of those with any demyelinating lesions on MRI at presentation will not have
developed MS ten years later
Optic Neuritis (ON) most often includes pain, with eye movement, in or behind the
eye when vision deteriorates. ON episodes often reappear, each reaching a peak within
days, and recovery takes from 5 weeks to six months - with or without any particular
treatment.
