Diseases

Optic Neuritis

Inflammation of the optic nerve. Commonly associated conditions include autoimmune disorders such as MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, infections, and granulomatous diseases. Clinical features include retro-orbital pain that is aggravated by eye movement, loss of color vision, and contrast sensitivity that may progress to severe visual loss, an afferent pupillary defect (Marcus-Gunn pupil), and in some instances optic disc hyperemia and swelling. Inflammation may occur in the portion of the nerve within the globe (neuropapillitis or anterior optic neuritis) or the portion behind the globe (retrobulbar neuritis or posterior optic neuritis).

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Inflammation of the optic nerve. Commonly associated conditions include autoimmune disorders such as MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, infections, and granulomatous diseases. Clinical features include retro-orbital pain that is aggravated by eye movement, loss of color vision, and contrast sensitivity that may progress to severe visual loss, an afferent pupillary defect (Marcus-Gunn pupil), and in some instances optic disc hyperemia and swelling. Inflammation may occur in the portion of the nerve within the globe (neuropapillitis or anterior optic neuritis) or the portion behind the globe (retrobulbar neuritis or posterior optic neuritis).

MeSH Record

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MeSH Record

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

21 entry terms
  • Neuritides, Optic
  • Neuritis, Optic
  • Optic Neuritides
  • Anterior Optic Neuritis
  • Neuropapillitis
  • Posterior Optic Neuritis
  • Retrobulbar Neuritis
  • Anterior Optic Neuritides
  • Neuritides, Anterior Optic
  • Neuritides, Posterior Optic
  • Neuritides, Retrobulbar
  • Neuritis, Anterior Optic
  • Neuritis, Posterior Optic
  • Neuritis, Retrobulbar
  • Neuropapillitides
  • Optic Neuritides, Anterior
  • Optic Neuritides, Posterior
  • Optic Neuritis, Anterior
  • Optic Neuritis, Posterior
  • Posterior Optic Neuritides
  • Retrobulbar Neuritides

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

35 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemically induced, classification, complications, congenital, diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, diet therapy, drug therapy, economics, embryology, enzymology, epidemiology, ethnology, etiology, genetics, history, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, mortality, nursing, parasitology, pathology, physiopathology, prevention & control, psychology, radiotherapy, rehabilitation, surgery, therapy, urine, veterinary, virology.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

SMON (Subacute Myelo-Optico-Neuropathy) is indexed here + MYELITIS + SYNDROME

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. C10w.292w.700w.550w
  2. C11w.640w.576w

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

WW 280

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Optic Neuritis. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D009902. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D009902
  2. Optic Neuritis. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optic_neuritis
  3. Optic Neuritis. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q972514