ABSTRACT

Optic neuritis is typically an acute demyelinating inflammation of the optic nerve. The inflammation may be idiopathic or associated with multiple sclerosis. The incidence of optic neuritis is between one and five per 100000 per year. Women are affected three times more commonly than men. Approximately one third of patients with idiopathic optic neuritis will develop multiple sclerosis within 5 years. This risk increases with longer follow up, and is greater for women than men.