To explore the predictive value of the prognosis and outcome for optic neuritis (ON) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO) by investigating the levels and variation of CXCL12, PDGF and CXCL14 in CSF of patients with ON and NMO. Retrospective study. Thirty-five patients with ON, 10 patients with NMO and 10 patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) were scheduled in the research unit from September 2012 to September 2013 in Neuro-Ophthalmology Department of PLA General Hospital. Clinical data and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters were collected. CXCL12, PDGF and CXCL14 concentrations were measured in CSF using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The CXCL12, PDGF and CXCL14 levels in CSF were compared by using ANOVA in different diseases with different phases and recurrent cases found by MRI. Multiple comparisons were used by LSD method. The comparison of positive rate for MRI in ON different phases was used by exact probability. Meanwhile, correlation analysis was conducted between CXCL12, PDGF, CXCL14 and white blood cells (WBC), IgG and protein in CSF. Compared with NMO group (3.69±0.35, 2.04±0.24, 7.05±0.94), the CXCL12, PDGF and CXCL14 levels in CSF were higher in ON (4.39±0.51, 2.51±0.39, 8.65±1.55) and CVST(4.84± 0.49, 2.79±0.47, 10.53±1.11) group (F=14.593, 10.060, 10.003,P<0.001, <0.001, <0.001), especially the CXCL12, PDGF and CXCL14 levels in CSF of CVST group patients were higher than that in ON group. Among them, the CXCL12 and PDGF levels in CSF were higher in acute phase of ON (4.63±0.50, 2.65±0.40) and CVST(4.84±0.49, 2.79±0.47) group than stationary phase of ON (4.13±0.39, 2.34±0.32) group (F=8.823, 4.906, P=0.001, 0.012). In addition, 28 of 35 ON patients were conducted the cerebral or orbital magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The result showed that the CXCL12 and PDGF levels in CSF of patients with positive finding in MRI (3.96±0.30, 2.23±0.16) were higher than those patients with negative finding in MRI (4.64±0.42, 2.62±0.42) (t=-4.754, -2.977, all P<0.01). Besides that, there was higher correlation between the CXCL12 level and PDGF in CSF (P<0.01). Reduced concentration of cytokine that promoted remyelination such as CXCL12 and PDGF in cerebrospinal fluid of the ON and NMO patients may predict a bad myelin regeneration.