title: Demyelinating optic neuritis presenting as a clinically isolated syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) describes a single, first-occurrence attack caused by inflammation/demyelination in 1 or more locations in the central nervous system. The optic nerve is a frequent site affected by this neurologic event. As the name implies, CIS is an isolated condition but is often considered a precursor to multiple sclerosis (MS). When distinctive brain lesions detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) accompany CIS, the person is considered at a high risk for MS. Treatment is aimed at delaying the onset of a second neurologic episode, reducing the accumulation of MRI-detected brain lesions and delaying the development of definite MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article describes a 40-year-old woman who experienced a sudden loss of vision in the right eye. Testing ultimately found a normal MRI, demyelination of the optic nerve, and progressive thinning of the retinal nerve fiber layer, leading to a diagnosis of CIS.
authors.affiliation: Multiple Sclerosis Eye Center for Analysis, Research, & Education (MS-Eye CARE), University Eye Institute, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204-2020, USA. nrholdeman@uh.edu
authors.forename: Nicky R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Holdeman
authors.forename: Tammy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Rosa A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000473:pathology*; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013577:Syndrome; D014792:Visual Acuity