Inflammatory optic neuropathies

Abstract Acute inflammatory optic neuropathy result frequently from a demyelinating disorder, multiple sclerosis being often the underlying pathology. However, the possibility of other causes of inflammatory optic neuropathies should be entertained when the clinical presentation is atypical (for example, massive disc swelling, painless visual loss, bilateral simultaneous optic neuropathy or, relentless progression of visual loss). This presentation will discuss the clinical presentations and differential diagnosis of typical optic neuritis, including Devic’s syndrome (neuromyelitis optica), neuroretinitis, sarcoidosis, acute idiopathic blind spot enlargement, optic perineuritis, Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy. At the end of the session, participants should be able to recognize the typical and atypical features of optic neuritis.