Eye inflammation may not necessarily be an eye problem, it may also be related to the body!

Staying up late, browsing the phone, watching videos with the lights off... these common behaviors that hurt the eyes may cause eye inflammation, which may not only be an eye health problem:

What is optic neuritis

Optic neuritis or optic papillitis is a general term for inflammation of any part of the optic nerve, and refers to diseases such as inflammatory demyelination, infection, and nonspecific inflammation of the optic nerve. Clinically, optic neuritis is divided into two types: intraocular and retrobulbar, depending on the location of the lesion.

The former refers to optic discitis, while the latter refers to retrobulbar optic neuritis. Optic neuritis is mostly unilateral, optic discitis is more common in children, and retrobulbar optic neuritis is more common in young adults.

Common symptoms of optic neuritis

The main clinical manifestation of optic neuritis is decreased vision. Some patients also have pain when turning the eyeball. Some patients will have visual field defects and are usually insensitive to light. They experience tractional pain in the eyeball and lesions in the optic nerve at the fundus.

Causes of Optic Neuroitis

1. It is caused by the patient's own immune system disease, such as sarcoidosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, etc.;
2. The patient has a local infection, which involves the ocular nerve and causes optic neuritis. In addition, it may also be caused by the patient taking certain irritating drugs that cause the optic nerve to become infected.

High-risk groups for optic neuritis

Optic neuritis refers to inflammatory lesions of the optic nerve;
1. Women, generally speaking, women between the ages of 18 and 48 are most likely to develop optic neuritis;
2. People with poor immune function, because decreased immunity can cause viruses to invade the body and eventually cause optic neuritis;
3. People with multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease. If it is not cured for a long time, it will cause serious damage to the optic nerve.
4. People who lack vitamin B1 will develop a series of neurological diseases when their bodies lack vitamin B1.
5. People who smoke and drink for a long time will have serious effects on the optic nerve because cigarettes and alcohol contain many toxic substances.

Prevention and advice for optic neuritis

Both local and systemic infections can affect the optic nerve and lead to infectious optic neuritis. Therefore, whether it is local inflammation in the orbit, oral cavity, sinus, or middle ear or a systemic infectious disease, active anti-infection treatment is required to avoid affecting the optic nerve and causing optic neuritis.

In addition, patients with multiple sclerosis or autoimmune diseases should pay special attention to their eye conditions and seek medical attention promptly if they experience decreased vision.

Source: Aier Eye Hospital