Unseen Links: Optic Neuritis and Heart Risks

Optic neuritis (ON) is an inflammation of the optic nerve. It is often linked to autoimmune issues. But does it also raise the risk of heart problems? A recent study looked into this. Researchers used data from Korea's National Health Insurance Service. They studied 15, 587 people with ON and compared them to 77, 935 similar people without ON. The study ran from 2010 to 2017. The study found that people with ON had a higher risk of heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Heart failure was more common in ON patients. Atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat, was also more frequent. The risk was even higher for younger people and those with lower incomes. This suggests that ON might trigger heart issues through autoimmune processes. The study shows a clear link between ON and heart risks. It calls for early heart checks for ON patients. More research is needed to understand why this happens.