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Updated: May 13, 2026
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The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test (MSPT): An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool
Published on: June 30, 2014
Persistent visual impairment in multiple sclerosis: prevalence, mechanisms and resulting disability
Laurence Jasse1, Sandra Vukusic, Françoise Durand-Dubief
1INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, ImpAct Team, France.
Multiple Sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)
|March 7, 2013
Summary
Persistent visual complaints (PVCs) affect over a third of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, often stemming from optic nerve damage or eye movement issues, impacting daily life quality.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-ophthalmology
- Clinical Neurology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease.
- Visual disturbances are common symptoms in MS patients.
- Persistent visual complaints (PVCs) can significantly impact quality of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of PVCs in MS patients.
- To investigate the underlying mechanisms of PVCs.
- To assess the functional disability resulting from PVCs.
Main Methods:
- Prevalence of PVCs assessed in 303 MS patients.
- Comparison of MS-related data between patients with and without PVCs.
- Neuro-ophthalmologic assessment and quality of life questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) administered to 70 PVC patients.
Main Results:
- PVCs reported in 34.6% of MS patients.
- PVC patients more frequently had primary progressive MS and neuro-ophthalmologic relapses.
- Afferent visual and ocular-motor pathway dysfunctions were common, linked to optic neuropathy and internuclear ophthalmoplegia; poor NEI-VFQ-25 scores correlated with test impairments.
Conclusions:
- High prevalence of PVCs in MS patients confirmed.
- Persistent optic neuropathy is a notable cause of PVCs in progressive MS.
- Ocular motor dysfunctions contribute to visual disability in daily life for MS patients.
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