Can optic neuritis be prevented?
In patients with an infectious cause of optic neuritis, eradication of the underlying infection will usually prevent further episodes. In patients with a known immune disorder such as systemic lupus or vasculitis, treatment of the underlying disorder will usually prevent further episodes. In patients with known multiple sclerosis, treatment of the multiple sclerosis may decrease the incidence of future attacks of multiple sclerosis, including optic neuritis. Current treatment includes high-dose intravenous corticosteroids during attacks of multiple sclerosis and chronic preventative therapy including immune-modulating drugs (interferon [Roferon-A, Intron-A, Rebetron, Alferon-N, Peg-Intron, Avonex, Betaseron, Infergen, Actimmune, Pegasys], glatiramer acetate [Copaxone], or natalizumab [Tysabri]), immunosuppressants (mitoxantrone [Novantrone], cyclophosphamide [Cytoxan], azathioprine [Imuran, Azasan], or methotrexate [Rheumatrex, Trexall]). Non-approved therapies that have not shown defi
