Pediatric optic neuritis.

OBJECTIVE

Describe the clinical characteristics of pediatric optic neuritis.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: Retrospective observational case series was performed on patients < or = 12 years of age with optic neuritis at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

RESULTS

Thirty-one patients (48 eyes) were identified. Mean follow-up was 2.7 years. There were 17 preadolescents (< 10-years-old) in group I, and 14 adolescents (10--12-years-old) in group II. Females comprised 59% of group I, and 71% of group II. Bilateral cases comprised 65% from group I, and 43% from group II. Five patients from group I had acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). Two patients from group II had multiple sclerosis (MS). No other patients developed MS. There was no difference in initial or final vision for the eyes with or without steroid treatment.

CONCLUSION

Pediatric optic neuritis has no gender or racial predilection, is usually bilateral, and is associated with ADEM rather than MS.