Optic neuritis is an inflammatory disease of the optic nerve with an abrupt loss of vision. The mechanism of the disease is not completely clear. Autophagy is an important metabolic pathway of eukaryotic cells involved degrading and recycling damaged organelles and proteins to maintain intracellular homeostasis. It is involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases. In this article, the probable effects of autophagy in the mechanism of optic neuritis is reviewed.