Optic Neuritis

information on nutrition & alternative treatments for optic neuritis

Optic neuritis is a condition involving an inflamed or swollen optic nerve which is the pathway for information transferred from your retina to your brain, where the information is interpreted. The optic nerve is a collection of tiny nerve fibers performing this function, with each individual fiber carrying one part of the information to be perceived. If any or all of these fibers are swollen and do not work correctly vision is blurred.

The optic nerve is surrounded by a protective fatty layer of myelin which insulates it from the tissue around it, and helps the impulses of energy travel more quickly along the nerve. If this outer protection is degraded or damaged, then the nerve can become swollen and inflammed.

• Certain nutrients such as Fish Oil, MSM Eyedrops, Serraflazyme and other nutrients may help recovery from a swollen optic nerve and preserve vision.
• See self-help & prevention tips
• See causes of enlarged optic nerve

These are the most common problems associated with the condition, although they don't mean that you necessarily have optic neuritis.

• Tender, sore eye
• Pain behind the eye when the eye moves (this is true for 90%+ of patients)
• Enlarged central blind spot or mild to severe reduction in central vision
• Dim, dull vision (as if lights are low)
• Decreased or blurred vision at least one eye (especially after exercising or after a hot bath)
• Decreased peripheral vision
• Decreased color perception
• Headache
• Fever
• Nausea

If you experience one or more of the above symptoms, call your opthamologist for a thorough exam.

Optic neuritis usually begins when the body's immune system attacks the optic nerve' myelin covering and the result is a swollen optic nerve. It may be triggered by:

• Autoimmune conditions such as lupis, HIV, Behcet's disease, or sarcoidosis
• Inflammatory conditions like multiple sclerosis. Any condition that causes some of the protecting myelin layer of the nerve to be degraded or destroyed may be the cause. It is common for patients to experience optic neuritis episodes before being diagnosed with MS. In fact, optic neuritis is often an early indicator of MS.
• Viral infections such as colds, measles, mumps, chickenpox, rubella, hepatitis B, herpes, or mononucleosis
• Fungal infections such as cryptococcosis
• Bacterial infections such as cat scratch fever, syphilis, or Lyme disease
• Parasitic diseases such as toxoplasmosis
• Chemical poisoning (also see drugs that harm the eyes)
• Trauma
• Other conditions such as allergies, poor digestion, diabetes or poor circulation

In our opinion, an enlarged optic nerve condition may be a symptom of chronic systemic inflammation in the body including autoimmune problems, allergies or even inflammation due to poor digestion.

From a Chinese medical perspective, swelling is often due to "stuck" Qi or energy, which can be related to poor flow of circulation, fluids, energy (and resulting nutrient deficiency) to the optic nerve, as well as heat generated in meridians such as Stomach heat due to digestive disorders. Liver (meridian) imbalances can also lead to digestive disorders as well.

In Chinese medicine, the Liver "opens to the eyes", and therefore is the primary flow of energy responsible for healthy vision. Liver imbalances resulting in "Excess Liver Heat" can result in eye inflammatory conditions (as well as glaucoma).

Most patients find that normal vision returns without any special treatment. For those with severe vision loss, treatment with intravenous corticosteroids in high doses sometimes speeds up recovery. A swollen optic nerve usually improves over several days to weeks, but may take months for complete restoration of normal vision.

After the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial in 1992, doctors determined that treatment with intravenous steroid drugs (not the oral steroids) reduces the risk of later developing MS - an important connection because about half of people who suffer an an initial episode of optic neuritis will develop MS. While this process has little effect on vision, it appears to be very important for health overall.

If you must take steroids, we suggest that you also take a good wholistic eye vitamin to help protect your vision. See more information about the effect of steroids on vision.

Since we consider most eye conditions to be a reflection of the health of the whole body, lifestyle choices and diet can play a major factor in getting and maintaining good vision. Below are some recommendations:

Diet, Nutrition & Lifestyle Tips

• See our vision protocol more details on essential diet and lifestyle points.
• Daily Juicing: ginger, parsley, beets, cabbage, carrots, endive, chlorophyll, wheat grasses, berries (all organic preferably). See more on juicing.