Purpose: To determine the etiology of optic neuritis in patients of different ages in China.
Methods: Records of optic neuritis patients who were hospitalized in the Department of Neuro-ophthalmology, General PLA Hospital, Beijing, between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011 were retrospectively reviewed.
Results: A total of 132 patients were divided into three groups by age. The percentage of patients aged ≤ 16 years, 16-45 years and >45 years were 17.4% (23/132), 54.6% (72/132), and 28.0% (37/132) respectively. The distribution of etiologies differed significantly among the three groups (X2=23.2, P=0.026). The percentage of idiopathic demyelinating optic neuritis was the highest in the 16-45 group (44.4%), and the proportion of neuromyelitis optical was the highest in the ≤ 16 years group. Infectious optic neuritis was more frequently seen in patients aged ≤ 16 years and >45 years. The source of infection was viral (n=2), nasosinusitis (n=1) and bacterial (n=1) in the ≤ 16 years group and neurosyphilis (n=3) and nasosinusitis (n=1) in the >45 years group. The percentage of paraneoplastic syndrome in the >45 years group was 8.11% (3/37).
Conclusion: The etiology of optic neuritis in patients at various ages differed significantly.