What is the prognosis for optic neuritis?
The prognosis depends on the underlying cause. Most episodes resolve spontaneously, with return of vision in two weeks to three months. Some people have repeat episodes of optic neuritis. Most patients with a typical history of optic neuritis and no underlying systemic disease, such as a connective tissue disease, recover vision, but more than one-quarter have a recurrence in the same eye or in the other eye. MRI is used to determine future risk of demyelinating disease. Visual deficits caused by optic neuritis may worsen over a period of about seven days before vision typically stabilizes at that level for three to eight weeks. Gradual vision improvement then may occur. About 95% of people with optic neuritis will recover much of their vision within six months of onset. However, about 20% will have a recurrence of optic neuritis in the affected eye, and 15% will develop optic neuritis in the other eye within 10 years. Complications arising from optic neuritis may include optic nerve d
