A literature review on optic neuritis following vaccination against virus infections

Optic neuritis (ON) is a primary inflammation of the optic nerve. ON is mostly idiopathic, and infrequently occurs on the background of systemic autoimmune disease, recent infectious disease or inoculation with mostly adjuvanted vaccines. Published case histories, retrospective reviews and analyses of epidemiological data report on the onset of immune-mediated ON (and other autoimmune disorders) within a defined period (days to weeks) after immunization of patients with probable genetic predisposition. After vaccination, there exists no long-term increased risk to develop ON. The risk for these vaccine-induced adverse events may be enhanced by adjuvants. Patient age distribution reflected immunization schedules and advisories, or patient age groups studied. Vaccination is one of the most important prevention tools in modern medicine, and a discussion on risk-benefit or cost-benefit analysis, and advisory on individual vaccines or vaccination programs falls outside the scope of this review. Despite a great deal of scientific uncertainty, the existence of a possible causal link between vaccines and acute ON should not be totally disregarded.