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Optic neuritis is an ocular sign of central nervous system (CNS) inflammation. The CNS is composed of the brain and spinal cord.
Specifically, optic neuritis is inflammation of the optic nerve. Inflammation is the process in the body where white blood vessels and chemical messengers are sent to an area of the body to initiate the healing process or to attack a foreign body. The optic nerve can become inflamed due to autoimmunity, infection, granulomatous diseases, tumor disorders, and demyelination.
The CNS system sends signals from the brain to the other parts of the body through nerves. Nerves tell the parts of the body what to do. Myelin is an insulation that wraps around the axon part of the nerve to speed nerve activity and signal conduction. Myelin is produced by a type of CNS cell called an oligodendrocyte. Attacks of demyelination can occur in parts of the brain, the spinal cord, and the optic nerve.
