what can an optic neurologist do?

Question

I have optic neuritis and have lost considerable vision in my left eye. I have been on steroids to treat this but my vision got worse instead of better, my eye doctor wants to know why, so he reffered me to an optic neurologist in Nashville. What can he do for me? what will he look for?

I was told to take my mri with me, or there's no point in going. It showed no lesions indicative of ms.

No he said optic neurologist and he told me there were very few in the country.

Answer 1

If your ophthalmologist put you on steroids for optic neuritis, and you aren't better, he wants a firmer diagnosis. Some optic neuropathies get 'worse' with steroids, others don't. Some get better such as optic neuritis associated with Temporal Arteritis (which really isn't just the temporal artery, but a systemic vasculitis...have seen people with coronary..heart...vasculities secondary to temporal arteritis).

This new guy will have all the optic neuopathies and their differences and subtle nuances at his fingertips. As this is all he does, gets good at it.

He's going to look at the nerve, the nerve circulation, the amount of inflammation, presence of cells or blood, status of the orbit, vascular status (age stuff), systemic diseases that have optic neuritis as a secondary or presenting finding (infectious? Tb, Luetic diseases), degenerative diseases, inflammatory diseases (think joints, lungs, bowel, liver, bone, urinary tract), autoimmune diseases (Lupus)., diabetes...that stuff.


Should be a pretty interesting trip for you, informative too....

Answer 2

I never heard of an optic neurologist. I have heard of a neurologist, but not a optic neurologist. Are you sure he did not mean for you to set up an appointment with a neurologist to have him look at you optic nerve? I think it worth going even though they did rule out MS. There has to be a reason why and a neurologist is a specialist that may come up with an answer a regular doctor or eye doctor can not. Good Luck! Please don't play to long. I would hate to see you lose you eyesight.

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
what can an optic neurologist do?
I have optic neuritis and have lost considerable vision in my left eye. I have been on steroids to treat this but my vision got worse instead of better, my eye doctor wants to know why, so he reffered me to an optic neurologist in Nashville. What can he do for me? what will he look for?

Answer 4

he can see the different nerves and see how the brain and eyes are functioning together.