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Answered in 20 minutes by:
7/16/2010
Dr. Dan B., Board Certified Ophthalmologist
Category: Eye
Satisfied Customers: 3,367
Experience: Eye surgeon experienced in cataracts, glaucoma, retina & neuro-ophthalmology
VerifiedHello and thank you for your question.
I am sorry for your predicament and hope to be able to shed some light on the problem. Optic neuritis many times presents as a lone finding. In other words, there are no other findings on blood work, spintal tap, MRI, and no other symptoms (like bowel or bladder incontinence or weakness/numbness on a part of the body).
Ultimately studies show that up to 75% of women who present with only optic neuritis go on to develop multiple sclerosis. However, if there really are no plaques (white spots seen on the MRI which represent demyelination), then your overall risk for developing MS hovers around 20%.
There can be other causes of optic neuritis including viral and other infectious, but the large majority end up being either MS or just idiopathic (which means despite all the clinical testing that can be done no cause is found).
If you haven't been treated with steroids yet, you may consider talking to your doctor about that. Being treated with intravenous steroids (short three day course) can hasten resolution, but overall does not improve the end vision. The majority of people with optic neuritis do show significant healing and recover useful vision.
Does that help address your concerns?
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My opinion is solely informative and does not constitute a formal medical opinion or recommendation. For a formal medical opinion and/or recommendation you must be examined by your doctor.
Yes, the lights you are experiencing in your peripheral vision are part of the constellation of symptoms associated with optic neuritis.
As far as your case goes, because there was nothing positive that came up on your MRI and blood tests then you likely fall into two categories:
Either you have optic neuritis because of 1) multiple sclerosis which hasn't developed yet and do not have signs of yet (may happen many years down the road) or 2) yours is an idiopathic case. Idiopathic means despite all the testing we can do we don't find a cause.
Only time will tell which category you fall into.
Does that make sense?
Dr. Dan B., Board Certified Ophthalmologist
Category: Eye
Satisfied Customers: 3,367
Experience: Eye surgeon experienced in cataracts, glaucoma, retina & neuro-ophthalmology
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