What is Optic Neuritis?

This is the most common cause of sudden visual loss in a young patient. It is often associated with discomfort in or around the eye, particularly with eye movement. The optic nerve fibers are coated with myelin to help them conduct the electrical signals back to your brain. In the most common form of optic neuritis, the optic nerve has been attacked by the body’s overactive immune systemA viral infection that may have occurred years, or even decades, earlier may have set the stage for an acute episode of optic neuritis. The inflammation associated with optic neuritis can result in discomfort (particularly with movement of the eye).