Optic Neuritis and Retinal Tear

[jelakrj]

Anyone with MS ever experience complications with optic neuritis? I ask because I had what seemed to be optic neuritis several years ago, but I'm not even certain if that is what it was.  Woke up one day with a huge blind spot in one eye accompanied with flashing lights and pain. Doctors confirmed I had swelling and inflammation of the optic nerve, but they didn't say anything about optic neuritis and they told me there was nothing to do about it and not sure why I was experiencing this.  They tested for MS and they didn't find anything.  My symptoms gradually went away but there is blurry vision and flashes that have appeared on and off throughout the years.  Anyway, I was just told I have a retinal tear, but I don't have "retinal tear symptoms" and didn't have anything happen to me that would provoke a retinal tear (i.e. sudden hit on the head).  Could the optic neuritis from 10+ years ago affected the retina and caused a tear or no?

[COBOB]

There are two types of Optic Neuritis (ON): Bulbar and Retro-Bulbar.  You can see bulbar ON.  Retro-Bulbar is within the brain (and that makes for a problem.) Although it is called Retro-bulbar ON, it can effect the Optic Nerve, Optic Chasm, or the Optic Tract.  Even with a VEP, you can see the decreased conduction velocity, but can't see the location on the damage.  Only about 40% of cased of ON are  visible on ophthalmic examination as a "pale edge" to the optic disk.

http://www.medhelp.org/user_photos/show/174514?personal_page_id=1796008

To the best of my knowledge, there is no causal relationship between retinal tears or detachments and Optic Neuritis.  Flashes, double vision, and blurry vision can happen after ON.


Bob

[HVAC]

I am no Doctor but I do not think optic neuritis is related to a retinal tear. MS is a neurological disease with two components inflammation and  or nerve damage. ON is inflammation of the optic nerve at the back of the eye. I am not sure if that could tear a retina but it does not make sense to me. Once you have had ON I was told that they can tell from then on by looking at the Optic Nerve. I have known people with retinal tears who had no trauma. It is very curious may be someone more experienced with eyes will chime in. Sorry for your problem.

Alex