Clinical Profile of Optic Neuritis in Nigerians: Experience at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Abstract

Context: The clinical profile of optic neuritis varies in different communities; however, data in Nigerians is scarce. Aim: To describe the clinical profile of optic neuritis in Nigerians presenting at the eye clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Study Setting and Design: A hospital-based retrospective study. Patients and Methods: The records of patients presenting with optic neuritis from January 2009 to December 2019 were retrieved. Information on demographics, clinical presentation and management was obtained. Data collected were analyzed with the IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows Version 21. Descriptive analyses such as frequencies, median and interquartile range were utilized. Fishers’ Exact test was used to test for association between categorical variables. A P-value of <0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Result: Thirty-four patients with optic neuritis were seen among a total of 25,224 new patients giving a proportion of 0.13%. Of the 34 patients with optic neuritis, 10 were males (male to female ratio of 1:2.4). Their ages were from 3 years to 69 years (median age 31.5 years and interquartile range 26). There was unilateral involvement in 23 (67.6%) and ocular pain in 11 (32.4%) patients. Visual acuity of 6/60 or worse at presentation was seen in 33 (73.3%) eyes. Papillitis was seen in 18 (52.9%), retrobulbar neuritis 12 (35.3%) and neuroretinitis 4 (11.8%) patients. Neurologic examination was normal at presentation in all the patients. Conclusion: This study showed that optic neuritis affected more females, was more unilateral, and there was a low incidence of ocular pain. Also, optic disc swelling was a more frequent feature, and there was no association with multiple sclerosis or other etiology at first presentation.