Neuroretinitis
Neuroretinitis is inflammation of the retina and optic nerve of the eye. The condition can be caused by bacteria, viruses or autoimmune disease. It shares some features of optic neuritis. There is mostly central visual loss, which often recovers after some months, but often not completely.
There is no treatment that has proven to be helpful.
The eye is the organ of sight, a nearly spherical hollow globe filled with fluids (humors). The outer layer or tunic (sclera, or white, and cornea) is fibrous and protective. The middle layer (choroid, ciliary body and the iris) is vascular. The innermost layer (the retina) is nervous or sensory. The fluids in the eye are divided by the lens into the vitreous humor (behind the lens) and the aqueous humor (in front of the lens). The lens itself is flexible and suspended by ligaments which allow it to change shape to focus light on the retina, which is composed of sensory neurons.
The retina is the internal layer of the eye that receives and transmits focused images. The retina is normally red due to its rich blood supply.
References
Cioffi GA, Liebmann JM. Bartonella infections. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 291.
Moss HE, Guercio JR, Balcer LJ. Inflammatory optic neuropathies and neuroretinitis. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS, eds. Ophthalmology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 9.7.
Version Info
Last reviewed on: 11/8/2023
Reviewed by: Franklin W. Lusby, MD, Ophthalmologist, Lusby Vision Institute, La Jolla, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
