Optic neuritis

Optic neuritis (ON) recovers spontaneously, typically over several weeks or months. Generally the visual prognosis of ON is good, with only approximately 8% having a residually decreased visual acuity of less than 20/40. There is a certain risk of recurrence (30% over 5 years) in the affected or fellow eye. There is also a risk of conversion to clinically definite multiple sclerosis, which depends on the presence of an abnormal MRI at presentation.