Introduction
An inflammation of the optic nerve, also known as neuritis nervi optici or retrobulbar neuritis among doctors, is an inflammation of the optic nerve, the “optic nerve”, usually caused by autoimmunological processes. Autoimmunological means that the body’s own natural defense mechanisms, which are normally only directed against foreign substances and pathogens, are now, for reasons that are not necessarily clear, directed against the body’s own cells and treat them like foreign invaders. This leads to defensive reactions which, depending on the type of autoimmune disease, are differently dramatic and can only be treated with limited success.
General information
The optic nerve is responsible for transmitting the information signals arriving from the retina to certain parts of the brain, the so-called “area striata”, the visual cortex in the brain, where they are processed and converted into a comprehensible image of our surroundings. One of the layers of the human retina of the eye already consists of the nerve cells, which then bundle and unite to form the optic nerve and exit the eye and start their journey towards the brain. If this optic nerve is diseased somewhere in its path, various forms of vision loss and impairment can occur.
Forms of optic neuritis
Depending on where the optic nerve inflammation occurs, it is divided into different subtypes: If the inflammation of the optic nerve is located directly at the site of the optic nerve where it first unites to form a nerve cord and emerges from the eye, the so-called optic papilla, it is called “papillitis” If the inflammation takes place at the head of the optic nerve, i.e. still in the area of the eyeball, it is called “intrabulbar neuritis”. If the inflammatory processes take place somewhere in the further course of the nerve, i.e. in all areas after the eyeball, this is called “retrobulbar neuritis” If, in addition to the optic nerve, the retina is also involved, this is called “neuroretinitis” All forms of optic nerve inflammation can occur on one or both sides simultaneously The age of first manifestation is, with an incidence of about 3 per 100000 persons, mostly between the age of 18 and 50, with women being affected three to four times more often than men. Unfortunately, the actual cause why optic nerve inflammation occurred remains unexplained in most cases.
However, it can be observed that retrobulbar neuritis is associated with multiple sclerosis in 30% of the cases that occur; often, optic neuritis occurs as an early symptom and should give rise to a thorough examination. Multiple sclerosis is a form of autoimmune disease in which the body’s own immune cells, which are actually extremely useful, attack and attack components of the body’s own nerve cells. Thus, an inflammation is triggered in the nervous system throughout the body and those affected suffer from severe symptoms, in the foreground are sensory disturbances throughout the body, impaired vision (due to the inflammation of the optic nerve), paralysis of arms and/or legs or even just sections of them, low physical resilience and rapid fatigue and balance disorders.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronically progressive disease that typically manifests itself in relapses. The causes of multiple sclerosis could not be fully clarified, so far research has focused on three main reasons. Once a person has fallen ill with multiple sclerosis, other factors can have an unfavorable influence on the occurrence of a new relapse.
Stress, hormone disorders, infections, vaccinations and medications are generally considered to be particularly harmful, as they place additional strain on the body and the already weakened immune system.
- The first is autoimmune disease. Here the body’s defense system attacks the body’s own nerve tissue.
As a result, antibodies are formed against the nerve cells, which in turn trigger chronic diseases in the blood and can be directed against the body’s own cells. In the case of multiple sclerosis, these antibodies are primarily directed against the nerve tissue of the brain and spinal cord.
- A second possible cause is a certain genetic predisposition. For example, it has been observed that multiple sclerosis occurs more frequently in some families.
The closer the degree of kinship, the higher the risk of contracting this disease. Likewise, certain harmful environmental influences can lead to changes in the genetic material, so that multiple sclerosis can develop.
- Infections with certain pathogens are discussed as a third cause. Chlamydia, herpes viruses and the Epstein-Barr virus are particularly suspicious and risky. All three can lead to inflammation of the optic nerve and damage to the nerve fibers and thus to the outbreak of multiple sclerosis.