and as a manifestation of MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.
Symptoms may include
- PAINwith eye movement
- diminished VISUAL ACUITY (blurred or dim
vision) - eye is tender to touch or pressure
- blind spots (scotomas)
- dulled colors
The diagnostic path includes visual acuity and
VISUAL FIELD testing, OPHTHALMOSCOPYto examine
the optic NERVEdisk (which often becomes more
pale), and MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI) or
COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY(CT) SCANof the brain when
the doctor suspects multiple sclerosis or another
neurologic cause. Most retrobulbar optic neuritis
eventually goes away without treatment. The doc-
tor may prescribe CORTICOSTEROID MEDICATIONS
when the inflammation persists. Because retrobul-
bar optic neuritis is so often associated with multi-
ple sclerosis, the doctor may recommend more
extensive NEUROLOGIC EXAMINATION to determine
whether this condition is the underlying cause.
Recurrent or severe retrobulbar optic neuritis may
result in permanent VISION IMPAIRMENT.
See also OPTIC NERVE ATROPHY; OPTIC NERVE HYPOPLA-
SIA; PAPILLITIS; SCOTOMA; TOXIC OPTIC NEUROPATHY.116 The Eyes