Ten cases of optic vasculitis

Optic disc vasculitis is an idiopathic, usually benign condition in young healthy adults. Hayreh suggested that the condition is to be divided into two types: type 1, with optic disc edema and a benign course as the dominant features and type 2, a condition resembling a central retinal vein (CRV) occlusion with a variable outcome depending on the extent and the site of the lesion. Differential diagnosis with other causes of one-sided papilledema (type 1) and other vascular conditions (type 2) is very difficult but important. We suggest performing extensive ophthalmological and neurological examinations to exclude major diseases. In this article we will give a review of the literature and a description of the ten patients with optic disc vasculitis who were seen in our clinic between January 1983 and August 1986.