As of 2013, the etiology remained unknown. Given that CRION is responsive to immunosuppressive treatment, it may be immune-mediated. CRION has been classified as an autoimmune process but this description is not established with certainty and there is no known associated autoimmune antibody. Since 2015, some research points to CRION belonging to the antiMOG associated encephalomyelitis spectrum. As of 2019, the correlation between CRION and antiMOG associated encephalomyelitis is so high that now CRION is considered the most common phenotype related to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies As of 2021, some reports point out a second kind of CRION due to anti-phospholipid antibodies (anti-PL)
Chronic relapsing inflammatory optic neuropathy
Toxic and nutritional optic neuropathy
Autoimmune optic neuropathy
Arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy
Late congenital syphilitic oculopathy
Punctate inner choroiditis
Posterior ischemic optic neuropathy
Persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous