Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). The disease usually begins between the ages of 20 and 40 and is much more common in women than in men. The cause of MS is unknown. It is believed that the disease occurs as a combination of many factors such as: viral infections, genetic tendencies and environmental influences. In MS, the immune system attacks the myelin covering nerve fibers, causing the nerves to deteriorate and become permanently damaged. Vision problems are very common in patients with MS. The most common disease of the visual system is optic neuritis. MS is not easy to diagnose. Identification diagnosis of MS should be based on strict diagnostic standards. There are no typical tests for MS, but magnetic resonance, cerebrospinal fluid analysis and exploration of evoked potentials are the most important. Retrobulbar optic neuritis is a serious disorder causing sudden or gradual deterioration of visual acuity. The loss of vision is accompanied by concomitant eyeball pain and color vision disturbances. All off those symptoms are reversible but they can be persistent and lead to permanent damage of vision. The main drugs used to treat retrobulbar optic neuritis are corticosteroids. The nurse plays an important role in the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis. Their main role is based on education, instruction and providing support to the patient, which should be treated individually and the scope of individual activities should be adapted to the real needs of patients.

Key words: multiple sclerosis, retrobulbar optic neuritis, magnetic resonance imaging.