Optic Neuritis Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Optic neuritis is an eye disorder characterized by inflammation and swelling of the optic nerve. The eye nerve, or medically known as the optic nerve, is the nerve that connects the eye to the brain. It is this nerve that causes the light that the eye receives to be received by the brain and a person becomes able to see.
This disease is more experienced by women. The number of women who experience optic neuritis is two times more than men. Optic neuritis mostly affects people at a young age, which ranges from 20–45 years.
Symptom
Optic neuritis is often preceded by a viral infection such as a cough or runny nose, as well as complaints of pain when moving the eyeball. After that, visual acuity will decrease suddenly. This complaint can affect one or both eyes.
In addition to their vision becoming more blurred, people with optic neuritis generally experience dyschromatopsia, namely color perception disorders. For example, you can’t tell the difference between red and green, or you can’t tell the difference between blue and yellow. Sufferers will also feel pain in the eye moles that can be increasingly severe.
Generally, worsening visual acuity is triggered by stress or fatigue. In addition, usually sufferers also experience visual conduction disorders (objects that should be in a straight line, appear curved).
Optic neuritis is often accompanied by inflammation of the spinal nerve sheath (myelin). This causes optic neuritis often accompanied by symptoms of paralysis of the hands or feet, numbness in the hands or feet, continuous hiccups, and other nerve disorders.
Reason
Optic neuritis is almost always associated with multiple sclerosis, which is an autoimmune disease that attacks various nerves in the brain.
However, in some cases, optic neuritis can also be caused by a bacterial or viral infection that attacks the eyeball cavity or attacks the sinuses in the facial area.
Diagnosis
If there is suspicion of optic neuritis, there are several tests that are generally carried out, namely:
- Examination of the pupil reflex by shining a light on both eyes with a flashlight.
- Visual examination to assess visual acuity.
- Fundoscopic examination to assess the condition of the retina and nerves. In 2/3 of cases of optic neuritis, funduscopic examination results show a normal picture.
To ensure that what the patient is experiencing is optic neuritis and not other eye nerve disorders, blood tests are also needed. Examinations that need to be carried out are in the form of precipitation rate, C-reactive protein, thyroid hormone function, antinuclear antibody (ANA), and DNA examination.
Treatment
Optic neuritis cases must be handled by an ophthalmologist and a neurologist. In some cases of optic neuritis, visual acuity will improve on its own within one to several weeks. However, visual impairment can also occur permanently.
The main treatment for optic neuritis is corticosteroid drugs. This drug works by reducing swelling and inflammation of the nerves that occur. In addition, treatment with a monoclonal antibody, namely Rituximab, is also quite effective in improving vision. Rituximab has also been shown to reduce recurrence of optic neuritis.
If the optic neuritis is accompanied by other nerve disorders, then it is most likely that the optic neuritis is accompanied by multiple sclerosis. If this happens, the sufferer must be hospitalized. In addition, autoimmune drugs such as beta-interferon should be considered for administration.
Prevention
Until now, there is nothing that can prevent the occurrence of optic neuritis. However, if someone has experienced optic neuritis before, then to reduce the risk of recurrence, you should:
- Sleep 6–8 hours each night
- Avoid severe physical fatigue
- Routine control of an ophthalmologist and a neurologist
- Manage stress well
- Take the drug regularly according to the doctor’s advice