Optic neuropathy in multiple sclerosis; optic neuritis.

THE CLINICAL diagnosis of optic neuritis is frequently made, but histologic studies have been few. This report is based on the microscopic examination of eyes in which the optic nerve was affected in multiple sclerosis and which were studied at autopsy at the Montefiore Hospital. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS Fourteen eyes were obtained from 10 patients for whom the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis was confirmed by the autopsy findings. Of these 10 patients, 4 were men and 6 women. The average age at death was 40.6 years. Every patient showed some defect either in the eye or in the optic nerve. The shortest interval before death in which a visual defect developed was one year; the longest interval was 7.25 years. An attack of acute optic neuritis was diagnosed during life in only two patients. Four others gave a history suggestive of an attack of optic neuritis. Two had temporary periods of