HWN Suggests

Living with Optic Neuritis

It was March 8, 2010 when I knew there was a problem…  I was starting to lose the peripheral vision in my right eye.  Crap…  So NOT what I wanted to be dealing with again.  I knew that I was starting to have a flare of Optic Neuritis, because ten years earlier I had the same problem with my LEFT Eye.

Ten years ago the protocol for Optic Neuritis was 250 mg of steroids by IV every 6 hours for 3 days, then oral prednisone starting at 200mg and tapering to 0mg within 30 days. I ran this therapy and it worked like a charm to restore my vision, BUT in the process I gained a ton of weight (went from a size 6 to a size 16-18), was super-puffy and bloated with a serious prednisone…

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Articles of Interest

Corticosteroids for treating optic neuritis

There is no conclusive evidence of benefit in terms of recovery to normal visual acuity, visual field or contrast sensitivity six months after initiation with either intravenous or oral corticosteroids at the doses evaluated in trials included in this review.

Management of optic neuritis

Optic neuritis is an inflammatory condition of the optic nerve characterized by a sudden onset of unilateral visual loss, usually affecting young females. Demyelination associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common cause in regions where MS is prevalent; while in other places, there are a substantial proportion of cases where infective or autoimmune causes are seen.

Optic Neuritis in MS So Difficult To See

Optic neuritis is one of the symptoms of which those of us who live with multiple sclerosis on a daily basis know can set us apart from others.

Optic neuritis: from one medical student to another medical student

Many cases of optic neuritis resemble MS in their pathophysiology, and are believed to be autoimmune in nature.

Optic Neuritis: Western Medicine – Helpful or Harmful?

OK – Here’s part 2 in my Optic Neuritis story. This is how my health care providers have been “providing care.”

Should patients with optic neuritis be treated with steroids?

High-dose IVCS are effective in hastening visual recovery in acute typical optic neuritis, but do not affect the final visual outcome. In optic neuritis patients, IVCS may delay progression to clinically definite multiple sclerosis (CDMS) at 2 years, but not at 5 or 10 years. It is reasonable to recommend high-dose IVCS for acute optic neuritis patients with significant vision loss, severe pain and/or white matter lesions on brain MRI in whom the potential for benefit outweighs the risks.

Resources

Optic Neuritis Foundation

The Optic Neuritis Foundation, Inc. is determined to increase symptom recognition, augment public awareness, raise funds to support research and provide financial and/or resource assistance to individuals receiving the diagnosis.

Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation

The Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation is dedicated to funding research to understanding the pathophysiology and biochemistry of NMO.

LHON Society

You are in the right place if you or someone close to you, is affected by Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), or you are a medical professional interested in LHON.

Royal National Institute of Blind People

Optic neuritis usually causes a reduction or loss of vision in at least one eye. For many people with optic neuritis, vision typically gets worse over a period of several days to two weeks and then begins to improve. Optic neuritis usually gets better on its own.

Siegel Rare Neuroimmune Association

The most common cause of ON is inflammatory demyelination of the optic nerve. The pathology (similar to that of acute MS) involves plaques in the brain, with perivascular cuffing, edema in the myelinated nerve sheaths, and myelin breakdown. Similar to MS, a genetic susceptibility for ON is suspected, and it is believed that the demyelination in ON is immune-mediated. However, the specific mechanism and target antigen(s) are unknown..

MayoClinic

Most people who have a single episode of optic neuritis eventually recover their vision. Treatment with steroid medications may speed up vision recovery after optic neuritis.

MedlinePlus

Vision often returns to normal within 2 to 3 weeks with no treatment. Corticosteroids given through a vein (IV) or taken by mouth (oral) may speed up recovery. However, the final vision is no better with steroids than without. Oral steroids may actually increase the chance of recurrence.

Patient

ADON is a common cause of ON in parts of the world where multiple sclerosis (MS) is common. However, there are many other possible causes which must not be overlooked, as they may require different and urgent management.

StatPearls

Optic neuritis usually presents with the acute onset of monocular eye pain and vision loss in a young adult. Pain is usually associated with eye movements and often precedes loss of vision. Patients often report having had similar events in the same or fellow eye.