Optic neuritis: causes
Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .
Optic neuritis: causes. Multiple sclerosis (MS), Neuromyelitis optica (NMO), Anti MOG antibody disease. Fully referenced neurology checklist.
Inflammatory causes
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Neuromyelitis optica (NMO)
- Anti MOG antibody disease
- Anti GFAP antibody disease
- Anti CRMP5 antibody disease
- Sarcoidosis
- Chronic relapsing inflammatory optic neuropathy (CRION)
Non-inflammatory causes
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Features indicating non-MS inflammatory causes
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References
- Bennett JL, Costello F, Chen JJ, et al. Optic neuritis and autoimmune optic neuropathies: advances in diagnosis and treatment. Lancet Neurol 2023; 22:89-100.
- Weerasinghe D, Lueck C. Mimics and chameleons of optic neuritis. Pract Neurol 2016; 16:96-110.
- Zhao Y, Tan S, Chan TCY, et al. Clinical features of demyelinating optic neuritis with seropositive myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody in Chinese patients. Br J Ophthalmol 2018; 102:1372-1377.
- Duran M, Aykaç S. Optic neuritis after COVID-19 infection: a case report. J Fr Ophtalmol 2023; 46:e4-e7.
- Deschamps R, Papeix C, Demortiere S, et al. Frequency of AQP4 and MOG antibodies in patients with optic neuritis fulfilling minimal new multiple sclerosis MRI criteria. Neurology 2026; 106:e214753.
