What is the MOST common cause of Neuroretinitis?

• A. Cat scratch fever
• B. Lyme disease
• C. Syphilis
• D. Toxoplasmosis

Answer: (A)

Neuroretinitis is most often triggered by an infectious cause that leads to optic disc edema with a characteristic macular star of exudates. The commonest culprit is cat scratch disease from Bartonella henselae, typically linked to a cat exposure or scratch and often seen in children or young adults. The inflammation around the optic nerve causes leakage of lipid-rich material that shines outward into the macula, producing the star-shaped exudates. Clinically you’ll often see sudden, unilateral vision loss with this disc edema and macular star, and history plus Bartonella serology help confirm the diagnosis. While Lyme disease, syphilis, and toxoplasmosis can cause ocular inflammation, they’re less likely to present as classic neuroretinitis compared with Bartonella henselae.