Inflammation of the optic nerve causing unilateral, painful vision loss is known as?

• A. Hyphema
• B. Optic Neuritis
• C. Ocular Migraines
• D. Myasthenia Gravis

Answer: (B)

Optic neuritis is inflammation of the optic nerve that presents with unilateral, painful vision loss. The inflammation disrupts the nerve’s signal transmission from the retina, often causing decreased acuity, reduced color vision, and a relative afferent pupillary defect. The eye pain, especially with movement, is a key feature. This condition frequently affects young adults and can be associated with multiple sclerosis, with MRI or other tests helping confirm inflammation of the optic nerve. The other options don’t fit because hyphema is blood in the anterior chamber, ocular migraines involve transient visual disturbances without true optic nerve inflammation, and myasthenia gravis causes fatigable weakness and ocular symptoms rather than acute painful vision loss from optic nerve inflammation.