56 - Demyelinating, inflammatory, and infectious optic neuropathies

Abstract

Optic neuritis is an inflammatory or demyelinating process involving the optic nerve. The presentation of optic neuritis is characterized by painful, acute/subacute vision loss with corroborating evidence of an optic neuropathy on examination that may include a relative afferent pupillary defect, visual field dysfunction, dyschromatopsia, and optic nerve edema. Optic neuritis may occur as a clinically isolated syndrome or in association with neurologic/systemic disease. This section examines pediatric optic neuritis in the context of demyelinating and inflammatory disease processes in children. When possible, a careful understanding of the underlying etiology of optic neuritis is critical in order to target the appropriate treatment to protect the child from irreversible vision loss and to address neurologic or systemic disease. Therefore a multidisciplinary approach involving both ophthalmology and neurology is essential.