OPTIC NEURITIS IN HYPERTHYROIDISM: REPORT OF A CASE WITH REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Edematous and inflammatory diseases of the optic nerves are not always manifestations of a local lesion. In fact, it is known that these nerves, although well protected from direct injury, are often involved by disease processes that are far removed from the eyeball itself. Disease of the optic nerves may be the first indication of extracranial disease. From a review of the literature on the etiology of optic neuritis table 1 has been prepared (Fuchs 1 ). It may not be entirely complete, but it serves to illustrate the many diverse conditions that have been reported as affecting the optic nerves. It is obvious from the multiplicity of the reported causes of optic neuritis that in a given case it is difficult to settle on any one etiologic factor to the satisfactory exclusion of all others. In spite of this, we feel justified in reporting a case of optic neuritis as