What is optic neuritis?
In short
- Inflammation of the optic nerve which blurs or dims sight in one eye over a few days, often with pain on eye movement. Most people recover most of their sight without treatment.
- Blurred, dim or faded sight in one eye coming on over days, with colours looking washed out.
- New blurred or dim vision in one eye needs prompt assessment by an optometrist or eye department so the diagnosis is confirmed and other causes are ruled out.
Also called: Inflammation of the optic nerve
- Part of the eye
- Optic nerve
- Group
- Specialist care
- Vision functions involved
- Colour, Contrast and detail, Alignment and depth
- Main source
- RNIB
Optic neuritis is swelling of the optic nerve, the cable which carries signals from the eye to the brain. It usually affects one eye. Vision becomes blurred, dim or faded over a few days and may keep worsening for up to two weeks before it starts to improve. The central vision is most often affected, colours, especially reds, look washed out, and contrast drops. In the first days there is often discomfort or pain around the eye which is worse with large eye movements. For most people the cause is not found, the condition settles on its own, and it does not usually leave a major lasting loss of sight.
Optometrist
An eye-care professional who tests sight, checks eye health and can refer you for specialist care. Glossary entry
Optic nerve
Carries signals from the retina to the brain. Glossary entry
Contrast
The difference between an object and its background. Glossary entry
How optic neuritis can affect day-to-day life
You may recognise some of these situations, or none of them. The point is to find help with the things you want to do.
Faces and screens look dim
Central vision in one eye is blurred and colours look dull for some weeks.
Use the other eye for close work, increase screen brightness and contrast, and expect gradual improvement.
Judging steps
One good eye makes depth harder to judge.
Use handrails and take more time. Depth judgement improves as sight recovers.
Changes you may notice
- Blurred, dim or faded sight in one eye coming on over days, with colours looking washed out.
- Pain or discomfort around the eye, worse on eye movement, usually lasting a few days. Some people see flashing or flickering lights.
Everyone is different. Symptoms on their own cannot identify a condition.
What to do about a new or sudden changeAssessment and care
New blurred or dim vision in one eye needs prompt assessment by an optometrist or eye department so the diagnosis is confirmed and other causes are ruled out. Treatment is not always needed. Early steroid treatment, ideally within 48 hours, helps in some types, including optic neuritis linked to NMOSD, MOGAD and CRION or with certain antibodies, so the eye team may test for these. If the pain is severe enough to disturb sleep, tell the doctor, because another cause is possible.
How vision is affected
These topics explain the parts of vision involved. They do not predict your sight, diagnose anything or show the condition itself.
Colour
Colour helps you tell things apart. Clear labels and patterns make the same information readable without relying on colour.
Open the colour labContrast and detail
Sharp edges only help when they stand out from the background. Contrast, print size and blur each change how easy a task is.
Open the contrast and detail labAlignment and depth
Your brain combines the view from each eye with perspective, size and movement. Judging depth uses several clues at once.
Open the alignment and depth labEveryday support
Reduced sight in one eye affects depth judgement: take more time on stairs, kerbs, pouring and ball sports. Rest when the eye aches. Ask the eye team what to expect week by week, and whom to call if the other eye is affected. Driving is usually possible once vision recovers to the legal standard, but check with the eye team and DVLA.
Driving: you must tell DVLA about an eye condition which affects both eyes, or your only seeing eye. Driving and your eyesight
Common questions
Does optic neuritis mean I have MS?
Not on its own. About 38 in 100 people who have a demyelinating optic neuritis go on to develop MS within 10 years, so about 62 in 100 do not. Only a neurologist can diagnose MS, after further tests.
Will my sight come back?
Usually most of it does. In the large Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial, more than 9 in 10 people improved within the first month even without treatment. Vision typically worsens for a few days to two weeks, then slowly improves. Pain improves before vision.
Why does my sight get worse in the heat?
A warm bath, exercise, hot weather or hot food can make the vision temporarily worse. It usually improves once you cool down.
A question to take to your appointment
What type of optic neuritis is this, do I need treatment or tests for MS or other conditions, and what should I expect over the next month?Prepare your appointment checklist
Sources and review status
- Written by
- The Omnirx.io team, from the sources above
- Sources checked
- Page updated
- Next review due
- Clinical review
- Not yet. No clinician has endorsed this page.
- Reading level
- About 17 words a sentence, 293 words of guidance
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Cite this page
Glanced (2026) Optic neuritis: what the name means, care and support. Omnirx.io team for Medstack Ltd. Available at: https://www.glanced.co.uk/condition/optic-neuritis/ (Accessed: ). Source checked 4 October 2026.
Educational information. Follow the advice of your own eye-care team.