How to Reduce Optic Nerve Swelling

Explore this Article

methods

1Seeking Medical Treatment

2Alleviating Symptoms with Drugs

3Preventing a Reoccurrence of Symptoms

Other Sections

Related Articles

References

Optic nerve swelling, also called optic neuritis, is a condition where inflammation of the optic nerve causes vision problems. This could be serious, so contact your health care provider immediately if you experience sudden vision loss and headaches. Fortunately, several treatments can clear up the inflammation and restore your vision, so try not to worry too much -- with proper medical care, you may be back to normal in no time, and once you're better, you may be able to prevent a recurrence by practicing a healthy lifestyle and treating any underlying health issues.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Seeking Medical Treatment

1. 
   1
   Visit the doctor right away if you experience sudden vision problems. The main symptom of optic neuritis is a sudden onset of blurry or dark vision and 90% of the time it happens in one eye. You may also feel pain in your eyes, or have a headache and nausea. These symptoms usually present within about 3 days. This may be alarming, but don't panic. Visit your doctor right away for a medical assessment.

   • Optic neuritis requires medical attention, so do not try to treat it at home without speaking to your doctor.
   • If you have vision problems, don’t try to drive yourself to the doctor. Have someone else drive you or take a cab.
   • These symptoms could also be associated with a stroke or heart attack. If your heart is pounding, you have pain in your left arm, you have trouble breathing, or feel confused or dazed, call emergency services right away. If not, then the problem is not an emergency.
2. 
   2
   Have a thorough eye exam to diagnose the problem. Your doctor may carry out this exam, or they may refer you to an ophthalmologist. A visual eye exam and some vision tests are usually all the doctor need to diagnose neuritis. None of these tests are invasive or painful.

   • Your doctor may also order an MRI to get a scan or your brain. This is to rule out a brain tumor, multiple sclerosis, or another injury, which could cause neuritis in rare cases.
   • If you have an underlying medical condition, the doctor may also order a round of blood tests to see if the condition is to blame.
   Advertisement
3. 
   3
   Rest for 1-2 weeks if your doctor suspects the neuritis will clear up on its own. In many cases, you won't need further treatment to alleviate your condition. After examining your eyes, your doctor may conclude that the neuritis will clear up on its own. They’ll send you home to rest while the condition runs its course. Keep your doctor updated and inform them if your vision gets worse during this time.

   • If neuritis clears up on its own, it will likely do so within 1-2 weeks. After about 1 year, your vision will mostly improve back to normal.
   • Neuritis is more likely to clear up on its own if you don’t have an underlying medical condition that triggered it. If you have an autoimmune or other chronic disorder, then your doctor may take additional steps.
   • Since your vision may still be impaired until the condition clears up, don’t drive or operate machinery until your vision improves.
   Advertisement

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Alleviating Symptoms with Drugs

1. 
   1
   Take corticosteroids to reduce inflammation if the condition doesn’t clear up. If your condition doesn’t improve, or your doctor suspects it won’t clear up on its own, they may prescribe a short-term round of corticosteroids. These drugs reduce the swelling and inflammation around your optic nerve, which should improve your eyesight without any lasting problems.

   • The doctor may administer the steroids intravenously since it might speed up your recovery and delay multiple sclerosis. Your doctor will rarely prescribe oral pills, but if they do, follow their instructions and take them exactly as directed.
   • Possible side effects of short-term steroid use are insomnia, irritability, facial flushing, and upset stomach. Weight gain is a possible effect if you take steroids on a long-term basis.
2. 
   2
   Use immune-suppressing drugs if you have an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease is a condition where your immune system is hyperactive and attacks your own body. Neuritis is sometimes caused by an autoimmune disease, especially multiple sclerosis. If you have an existing autoimmune disorder, or your doctor suspects you may be developing one, then they may prescribe drugs to suppress your immune system and prevent it from attacking your optic nerves.

   • Take extra care to avoid getting sick while you’re on immunosuppressants. Wash your hands often, follow a diet high in vitamins, and avoid people who are sick.
   • In some cases, optic nerve swelling is an early symptom of an autoimmune disease. Your doctor will probably prescribe immunosuppressants to slow the disease’s onset.
   • Autoimmune disorders are usually manageable conditions. Many people live with them for their entire lives with few complications.
3. 
   3
   Reduce the pressure in your eye with acetazolamide. In some cases, optical neuritis is caused by your body producing too much spinal fluid, which raises the pressure in your optic nerve. To combat this, your doctor may prescribe acetazolamide to reduce the pressure in your eyes. This can reduce the inflammation on your optic nerve and improve your eyesight.

   • This drug comes in tablet form. Take it exactly as your doctor directs you to.
   • Common side effects of acetazolamide are nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Contact your doctor if you experience numbness or tingling, confusion, fever, severe headache, jaundice, or bloody urine.
   Advertisement

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Preventing a Reoccurrence of Symptoms

1. 
   1
   Follow the treatment for the underlying cause of the swelling. In many cases, optic nerve swelling is a result of a different condition. The swelling could have been a flareup of the condition. In this case, the best way to prevent another outbreak is by keeping the underlying cause under control. Keep up with your medications and doctor visits, and follow any other treatment regimen that your doctor instructs you to.

   • Some potential causes of the condition are multiple sclerosis, hepatitis B, herpes, HIV, mumps, Lyme disease, syphilis, tuberculosis, and some autoimmune disorders.
   • Remember that having optic nerve swelling isn’t necessarily the result of a serious disease and can occur on its own. You’ll need a medical exam to determine the cause.
2. 
   2
   Keep your blood pressure within a healthy range. High blood pressure can increase the pressure in the rest of your body, and could potentially spark optic neuritis. Do your best to keep your blood pressure close to the 120/80 range to prevent flareups. There are a few ways to lower your blood pressure if yours is high.

   • Getting regular exercise helps keep your blood pressure low. Focus on aerobic exercises like running, biking, and swimming.
   • Follow a healthy diet low in saturated fats and sodium. Both ingredients can raise your blood pressure. Also, resist the urge to put salt on your food.
   • Avoid unhealthy habits like smoking or heavy drinking. Heavy drinking is defined as more than 1 drink per day for women and more than 2 drinks per day for men.
   • If you take blood pressure medication, take it exactly as directed. Don’t skip doses or take too much.
3. 
   3
   Maintain a healthy body weight. Being overweight increases your risk of developing optic neuritis and high blood pressure. Speak with your doctor to determine a healthy weight for you. Lose weight if you have to, and practice a healthy lifestyle to keep it off.

   • Include lean proteins in your diet like poultry, fish, nuts, and beans. Avoid processed foods and red meats, which are high in saturated fats.
   • Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, especially leafy green vegetables like kale and spinach.
   • Stay active and get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day. Even if you can’t workout hard, taking a daily walk is great exercise.
   Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement