What is the difference between Optic Neuropathy , and Optic Neuritis ?!
Question:
What is the difference between Optic Neuropathy , and Optic Neuritis ?
Answers:
Optic neuritis is a demyelinating inflammation of the optic nerve. In many cases, it is associated with multiple sclerosis, when brain MRIs have certain findings, such as white matter lesions. Optic neuritis most commonly is found to be an autoimmune process. Usually, but not always, sudden visual loss. Once optic neuritis is treated and improves, usually with steroids, it can recur at a later time.
Optic neuropathy, on the other hand, is a condition or disease of the optic nerve usually characterized as either ischemic optic neuropathy, or the lack of blood to the optic nerve, or compressive optic neuropathy, or something pressing on the optic nerve, more commonly characterized by a slower, progressive vision loss. There can be some improvement back to original vision, however, it is harder to treat with steroids alone and in the cases I have seen, the patients' vision will improve, but a lot of the cases have some residual vision loss or problems.
The articles I've listed below describe optic neuritis, and both ischemic and compressive optic neuropathy.
I'm not a physician by any means. The best sources that can explain in even more detail causes and prognoses for either condition would be a neuro-ophthalmologist or neurologist.