Clarification on this part:
The doc at UCSF doesn't know what the cause is, let alone when or even if it will get better.
There are a few possible diagnoses but not enough information yet to make a definitive one.
They involve the optic nerves, either inflammation of them (
optic neuritis) or damage to them (
optic neuropathy). They both have a variety of possible causes and, depending on the cause, may or may not be temporary/treatable. Among the causes in the second group is a genetic one (
Leber's hereditary), which is unlikely because no one in the family has it, but DNA test results will be in next week regardless.
That is also all of the time I'm going to spend on the Internet reading about this. I'd much rather talk to the doctor (which I'm doing on Wednesday) than sit at my computer and speculate.