In inflammatory diseases of the optic nerve , a decrease in visual function is observed. As a rule, the classification is divided into retrobulbar neuritis and optic neuritis. In neuritis, the optic disk undergoes an inflammatory process, and in the second case, as a rule, the eyeball becomes inflamed, and an axial bundle of nerve endings is also involved in the lesion process. In the initial stages of development of retrobulbar neuritis, the eyeball may remain normal. However, there is hyperemia of the nerve disk, usually small, the borders of the optic nerve have fuzzy contours. Such symptoms are also characteristic of neuritis. Most often, retrobulbar neuritis occurs in one eye, and only after a certain period of time does the second one begin to get sick. Cases of simultaneous disease of two eyes are quite rare.
From a clinical point of view, retrobulbar optic neuritis has two forms: acute and chronic. Speaking of the acute form, visual acuity quickly decreases in a short time (a couple of days) , which cannot be said of the chronic form, in which this process proceeds gradually. Acute retrobulbar neuritis is characterized by pain behind the eyeball, as well as directly pressing the eyes into orbit. After the initial decline, visual acuity begins to gradually stabilize. And only in very rare cases, the recovery process does not occur, and the eye remains blind.
Speaking about the features of the origin of such a disease as retrobulbar neuritis, it is necessary to mention the toxic origin. As a rule, this is poisoning either with methyl alcohol, or with substances that contain methyl alcohol in large quantities. With common signs of poisoning, such as nausea or vomiting, after a couple of days there is a rather sharp decrease in the visual acuity of two eyes, up to blindness. In this case, the pupils dilate, and the reaction is weakly expressed, however, it may be completely absent. As a rule, cases of ischemic neuritis are quite rare. In this case, the disc is pale, its borders are shaded, and the arteries are greatly narrowed. Further development of this process is very diverse. In the first month after poisoning, an improvement in vision is possible, but then this process can be reversible and leads to blindness. Indeed, as you know, visual acuity decreases due to atrophy of the optic nerves.
In a patient suffering from diabetes mellitus, retrobulbar neuritis occurs in a chronic form, and is more common in males. In this case, both eyes are affected. Visual acuity does not weaken immediately, gradually. The appearance of cattle, absolute and relative, on the periphery of the normal boundaries of the field of vision. It is noted that the optic nerve discs are initially normal, and then their temporal pallor develops.
As for the diagnosis, it is not very difficult to diagnose typical cases of a disease such as retrobulbar neuritis. Treatment depends on the form and severity of the course. The most difficult thing is to diagnose mild neuritis, which are not accompanied by a decrease in visual capabilities or edema. It is important not to confuse it with pseudo-neuritis, in which the normal functioning of visual functions is observed. In cases of the appearance of the smallest hemorrhages in the disk tissue, even single ones, it is possible to diagnose neuritis with confidence.
Retrobulbar neuritis can occur due to alcohol-tobacco intoxication, as well as when smoking strong tobacco, which contains a large amount of nicotine. It is more common in men thirty years of age and older.