As the viral particles have never been detected in the optic nerve axons either by electron microscopy or in situ hybridization, the current hypothesis favors an immune-mediated mechanism possibly due to the indirect effect of cytokines released by the virus-infected macrophages, particularly TNF-α which plays a major role in HIV-induced neuronal apoptosis.[6, 7] In our series, except the HIV infection, there was no other discernible cause of the optic neuropathy. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is optic nerve disorder.