Optical neuritis is an inflammation of the optic nerve. It is an autoimmune disease, in which the organism’s own immune system wrongly attacks the tissues of the optic nerve, causing its swelling and the impairment of its function.
For us to see, the optic nerve carries neural impulses from the eyes to the brain, where they are interpreted as an image. Damage or infection to the optic nerve can drastically impact vision.
There are different reasons for neuritis of the optic nerve. It can be connected to other diseases and conditions. For example, optical neuritis can be a symptom of multiple sclerosis. In most cases, however, it appears for an unknown reason.
The condition can affect one or both eyes. In children, both are usually affected, while in adults it is usually only one. Symptoms can appear suddenly and include quick and serious decrease in vision (in one or both eyes), blurred or weaker vision. It can also impair color perception (making them dull and boring).
Luckily, most people with optical neuritis recover a large part of their vision without treatment. Recovery usually begins in a few weeks after the appearance of the disease and can last for a few months. Some people, however, cannot regain their normal vision, especially if they have diseases such as multiple sclerosis.