Papillitis may be idiopathic, infectious, due to ischemia (acute ischemic optic neuropathy or AION), or due to a tumor (optic nerve or sphenoid wing meningioma, glioma, or parasellar process). Compressive lesions can also cause cavitation (optic nerve cupping) or shunt vessels on the surface of the disc.

What causes optic nerve papillitis?

Papillitis may be idiopathic, infectious, due to ischemia (acute ischemic optic neuropathy or AION), or due to a tumor (optic nerve or sphenoid wing meningioma, glioma, or parasellar process). Compressive lesions can also cause cavitation (optic nerve cupping) or shunt vessels on the surface of the disc.

What causes bilateral optic nerve swelling?

Lyme disease, cat scratch disease, and syphilis can all directly cause bilateral optic disc swelling due to infiltration whereas viruses can often precede optic neuritis. Inflammatory culprits such as giant cell arteritis or neurosarcoidosis may also lead to bilateral optic disc edema.

What causes bilateral papilledema?

Papilledema refers to the swelling of the optic nerve due to increased pressure inside the cranium. There are various possible causes, including a mass, a hemorrhage, and meningitis. Some other conditions cause optic nerve swelling without intracranial pressure.

What is the difference between papillitis and Papilloedema?

Papillitis can be differentiated from papilledema by an afferent pupillary defect (Marcus Gunn pupil), by its greater effect in decreasing visual acuity and color vision, and by the presence of a central scotoma. Papilledema that is not yet chronic will not have as dramatic an effect on vision.

Can MS cause papillitis?

Affected Populations. Papillitis affects males and females in equal numbers and can occur at any age. A percentage of people with papillitis may eventually be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. (for more information on this disorder, see the Related Disorders section of this report.)

Can stress cause optic neuritis?

In fact, continuous stress and elevated cortisol levels negatively impact the eye and brain due to autonomous nervous system (sympathetic) imbalance and vascular dysregulation; hence stress may also be one of the major causes of visual system diseases such as glaucoma and optic neuropathy.

What is Papillitis?

General Discussion. Papillitis, also known as optic neuritis, is characterized by inflammation and deterioration of the portion of the optic nerve known as the optic disk.

Is optic nerve swelling serious?

Papilledema is swelling of your optic nerve, which connects the eye and brain. This swelling is a reaction to a buildup of pressure in or around your brain that may have many causes. Often, it’s a warning sign of a serious medical condition that needs attention, such as a brain tumor or hemorrhage.

What is the most common cause of papilledema?

The most common causes of papilledema without IIH were intracranial tumor, intracranial hemorrhage, and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (Table 1).

Can viral meningitis cause papilledema?

In cases of bacterial meningitis, papilledema was more likely to occur in patients with tuberculous meningitis, and was observed in up to 25% of cases. Papilledema due to viral or other causes of aseptic meningitis is much less common and was observed in only 2% of patients in one series.

What are the symptoms for papillitis?

The symptoms of papillitis include loss of vision, pain in the eye, and interference with accurate color vision (dyschromatopsia). Individuals with papillitis usually experience unilateral loss of vision.

What is the most common cause of papillitis?

In patients over 60 years of age, a common cause of papillitis is temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis).

Can papillitis spread to the other eye?

In patients over 60 years of age, a common cause of papillitis is temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis). In such cases, papillitis can spread to the other eye resulting in bilateral blindness. Papillitis affects males and females in equal numbers and can occur at any age.

What is the difference between papillitis and papilledema?

Papillitis may have the same appearance as papilledema. However, papillitis may be unilateral, whereas papilledema is almost always bilateral.

What is the pathophysiology of optic papillitis?

Papillitis may be idiopathic, infectious, due to ischemia (acute ischemic optic neuropathy or AION), or due to a tumor (optic nerve or sphenoid wing meningioma, glioma, or parasellar process). Compressive lesions can also cause cavitation (optic nerve cupping) or shunt vessels on the surface of the disc.