Retrobulbar (optic) neuritis is inflammation of the optic nerve that may cause a complete or partial loss of vision. This inflammation can affect a part of the nerve within the eyeball (neuropapillitis) or a part of the nerve behind the eyeball (retrobulbar neuritis).
Optic neuritis is a common clinical manifestation of central nervous system inflammation. Depending on the etiology, visual prognosis and the risk for recurrent injury may vary. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of optic neuritis may be critical for limiting vision loss, future neurologic disability, and organ damage.
Critical elements in establishing the diagnosis are a detailed history and an accurate examination. In the early stages of retrobulbar neuritis (RN), the optic disc appears normal on ophthalmoscopy. Therefore, the diagnosis of RN is usually made clinically. However, imaging tools are needed for precise diagnosis of RN, and usually MRI is used.
Bennett JL. Optic Neuritis. Continuum (Minneap Minn). 2019 Oct;25(5):1236-1264. doi: 10.1212/CON.0000000000000768. PMID: 31584536; PMCID: PMC7395663.
Oğurel T, Burulday V. Strain and Shear Wave Elastography in Diagnosis of Retrobulbar Neuritis. J Neuroophthalmol. 2020 Jun;40(2):169-173. doi: 10.1097/WNO.0000000000000793. PMID: 31022061.
Stefanović IB, Jovanović M, Krnjaja BD, Veselinović D, Jovanović P. Influence of retrobulbar neuritis and papillitis on echographically measured optic nerve diameter. Vojnosanit Pregl. 2010 Jan;67(1):32-5. doi: 10.2298/vsp1001032s. PMID: 20225632.
Vaphiades MS, Kline LB. Optic neuritis. Compr Ophthalmol Update. 2007 Mar-Apr;8(2):67-75; discussion 77-8. PMID: 17540123.