The presentation, aetiology, management and outcome of optic neuritis in an Asian population.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the presentation, aetiology, management and outcome of patients with optic neuritis (ON) in Singapore.


METHODS
This was a retrospective study involving consecutive patients with ON presentng at the Singapore National Eye Centre between January 1997 and May 1999. The presenting features, investigatons, treatment and visual outcome after 6 months were studied.


RESULTS
A total of 31 patents (39 eyes) presented with ON during this period, 17 of whom had anterior ON. No aetiology was found in 26 patients (83.9%), two patients (6.5%) had multiple sclerosis, one had active syphilis, one had rheumatoid arthritis and another had pan-sinusitis. Seventeen patients (54.8%) were treated with intravenous methyl-prednisolone followed by oral prednisolone. Within the follow-up period 26 of 31 eyes (83.9%) wth idiopathic ON attained visual acuity of 6/12 or better with 12 (38.7%) recovering to 6/6 or better and only one eye ending with less than 6/60 visual acuity. The one patient with syphilis recovered 6/6 visual acuity bilaterally. Both patients with multiple sclerosis also had good visual recovery at 6 months. The visual outcome in those cases of ON associated with rheumatoid arthritis and pan-sinusitis was poor with visual acuity of less than 6/60 at 6 months follow up in each instance.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of the cases of ON in this study were idiopathic. There was a low association with multiple sclerosis. Most patients had good visual recovery within 6 months.
Wang
J C
JC
Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore. jcwang@singnet.com.sg
Tow
S
S
Aung
T
T
Lim
S A
SA
Cullen
J F
JF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008775:Methylprednisolone