AIM:To summarize the clinical characters of optic neuritis caused by antituberculosis drugs, and to discuss the prevention countermeasures.

METHODS: The clinical characters of optic neuritis caused by antituberculosis drugs among those outpatients and ward patients from January 2003 to January 2013 were reviewed and analyzed.

RESULTS: Optic neuritis caused by antituberculosis drugs was rare(17/60000), while retrobulbar neuritis was common. The drugs inducing optical neuritis were mainly ethambutol, followed by isoniazid and streptomycin. The vision of patients would have different degrees of improvement via the following treatment after specific diagnosis, i.e., timely stopping the tuberculosis medicine associated with optic neuritis, and taking vitamin supplements, dilating blood vessels and applying hormone therapy according to the illness.

CONCLUSION: We should pay attention to the change of the vision of patients during the usage of antituberculosis drugs. In the case of sudden eyesight deterioration, ophthalmology examination and timely treatment are advised preventing blindness.