Abstract
Purpose: :
To review the management and follow-up of patients presenting to our eye casualty with optic neuritis and to assess visual outcome.
Methods: :
Case note review.
Results: :
44 patients between the ages of 18 and 40 were diagnosed with optic neuritis in eye casualty in 2007. None showed atypical features. Visual acuity at presentation was 20/40 or worse in 23 patients, 20/100 or worse in 13 patients and 20/200 or worse in 5 patients. 26 patients had their diagnosis confirmed on further review. Of these, 23 had visual recovery to 20/30 or better at 3 months. Of the remaining 3 patients 1 had macular pathology and 2 had had previous optic neuritis. 8 patients were lost to follow-up and 10 patients were assigned alternative diagnoses at follow-up. One patient received treatment with steroids due to a concern about progressive visual loss.
Keywords: optic nerve • neuro-ophthalmology: optic nerve • visual acuity