Hi Thomas,

I am just now seeing your question.  As you've discovered, optic neuritis does not always mean a diagnosis of MS.  A case of optic neuritis can be a one-time occurrence.  However, it does increase your chances of later developing MS.

It has now been 6 weeks since you developed optic neuritis.  At that time, did your doctor prescribe oral or IV high-dose steroids?  If so, did you notice any improvement in your vision in the following weeks?

When I experienced optic neuritis in 2000 and lost all vision in my right eye because of it, it took almost three months before I felt that my vision had truly returned.  The improvement was very gradual and I still had some residual vision loss after those three months. 

My neurologist at the time treated me with high-dose oral prednisone to try to help speed up the recovery.  Research has since shown that this is not the preferred approach.  IV steroids provide more protection against later developing MS in a patient with a single episode of optic neuritis.  I was eventually dx with MS five years later.

In talking with many different patients, it seems that recovery from optic neuritis can be very, very slow.  3-4 months is not terribly unusual.  Definitely follow-up with your neurologist to check progress.

Good luck,

Lisa