Inflammatory and Infectious Optic Neuropathies

Inflammatory and infectious optic neuropathies occur when there is an abnormality or damage of the optic (vision) nerve. Certain types of optic neuropathies are related to an infectious agent. Several types of infectious agents can cause optic neuropathies, such as:

• Bartonella henselae: A common bacteria that causes cat scratch fever, which can result in retinal and/or optic nerve inflammation. Classic exposure is related to cats but in some cases, a history of exposure is not present.
• Toxoplasmosis: This condition is caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that is usually spread through poorly cooked food or cat faeces. The condition can cause retinal inflammation and in some cases inflammation of the optic nerve head (entrance of the optic nerve into the eye).
• Other agents: Other less common infectious agents that can cause infectious optic neuropathy includes Lyme disease, Zika virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Varicella zoster virus (chicken pox, shingles), Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus, or Herpes simplex virus.

The experienced specialists at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, part of the University of Miami Health System, can help you effectively manage these conditions and, thus, minimize the symptoms of any resulting optic problems. The main symptom of infectious optic neuropathies is increasingly worse vision loss.

Tests

Comprehensive Exam – Your doctor will conduct a thorough physical examination of your eyes – as well as gather a complete health history – to determine if you have inflammatory and infectious optic neuropathy.

Blood Test – Your doctor may recommend you undergo a blood test to check for the underlying cause of your inflammatory and infectious optic neuropathy.

Optical coherence tomography – The test measures the thickness of the cell layers and nerve fibres that make up the optic nerves to check for optic nerve damage.

Optic nerve photos – The test documents the amount of optic nerve swelling.

Visual field – A visual field test assesses both central and peripheral vision.

Treatments

Medication – Your doctor will need to treat the underlying cause of your optic neuropathy. Therefore, if an infection has caused the condition, he or she will likely prescribe an antibiotic, antiviral, or antiparasitic medication to clear up the infection.