Optic neuritis(ON), which is the blinding optic nerve diseases that the young and middle-aged population are most susceptible to, is an optic neuropathy caused by various factors. Idiopathic optic neuritis(ION)occurs most frequently asmultiple sclerosis related optic neuritis(MS-ON)and neuromyelitis optica related optic neuritis(NMO-ON). ION has the characteristics of acute onset, easy recurrence, and serious dysfunction. Inflammation is an important mechanism of ION. By mediating inflammatory responses and participating in immune responses, proinflammatory cytokines, as one of cytokines which is a general term for a class of small molecule soluble peptides that regulate the immune system, have caused widespread concern in the pathogenesis of ION. This article reviews and discusses researches on the pathogenesis of proinflammatory cytokines-mediated ION at home and abroad in an effort to promote an in-depth study of the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of ION.