AON is a rare disease and the natural history of the disease process is not well defined. Unlike typical optic neuritis, there is no association with multiple sclerosis, but the visual prognosis for AON is worse than typical optic neuritis. Thus AON patients have different treatment, and often receive chronic immunosuppression. No formal recommendation can be made regarding the best therapeutic approach. However, the available evidence to date supports treatment with corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive agents. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment with systemic corticosteroids may restore some visual function but the patient may remain steroid dependent; vision often worsens when corticosteroids are tapered. As such, long-term steroid-sparing immunosuppressive agents may be required to limit the side-effects of steroids and minimize the risk of worsening vision.
Autoimmune optic neuropathy
Toxic and nutritional optic neuropathy
Arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy
Chronic relapsing inflammatory optic neuropathy
Ischemic optic neuropathy
Posterior ischemic optic neuropathy
Retinal vasculitis
Autoimmune retinopathy