Corticosteroid therapy in optic neuritis (optic neuropathy).

Corticosteroid treatment of acute idiopathic optic neuritis is still highly controversial. Controlled studies have indicated that visual acuity has been restored more rapidly after corticoid treatment. Long-term results however do not differ with the untreated control group. Corticoids are essential in the treatment of ischemic optic neuropathy, especially when occurring with auto-immune diseases or giant cell arteritis. Some authors believe that corticoids can be helpful during the acute phase of an idiopathic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.