Which condition is characterized by inflammation of the optic nerve?

Multiple sclerosis is known for causing inflammation of the optic nerve, a condition referred to as optic neuritis. This inflammation is often one of the first signs of multiple sclerosis and can lead to symptoms such as vision loss, painful eye movements, and color vision changes. In multiple sclerosis, the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin sheath that surrounds nerve fibers, which includes those in the optic nerve, leading to the inflammatory response.

Other conditions listed do not typically involve optic nerve inflammation. Hypertensive retinopathy primarily affects the retinal blood vessels rather than the optic nerve, stemming from chronic high blood pressure. Retinal detachment is a medical emergency but pertains to the physical separation of the retina from the underlying supportive tissue and does not involve inflammation of the optic nerve. Diabetic nephropathy relates to kidney damage due to diabetes, affecting renal function and not the optic nerve directly. Understanding these differences helps clarify why multiple sclerosis is the correct condition related to optic nerve inflammation.