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Published on: April 14, 2014
The temporal evolution of structural and functional measures after acute optic neuritis
Fiona Costello1, Y Irene Pan2, E Ann Yeh3
1Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Structural and functional measures in acute optic neuritis (ON) eyes evolve over 12 months, with progressive declines in retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell layer thickness. Female patients showed faster functional recovery compared to males.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-ophthalmology
- Visual neuroscience
- Medical imaging
Background:
- Acute optic neuritis (ON) affects the afferent visual pathway.
- Understanding the temporal evolution of ON is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the temporal evolution of functional and structural measures in patients with acute ON.
- To investigate potential sex-specific differences in recovery patterns.
Main Methods:
- Prospective case series of 50 ON patients followed for 12 months.
- Utilized spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) for structural measures (RNFL, GCL).
- Assessed visual acuity (LogMAR) and visual field mean deviation (VFMD) using Humphrey perimetry.
Main Results:
- Progressive decline in peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness over 12 months.
- Mean recovery time for functional vision (VFMD > -5.00 dB) was 3 months.
- Female patients demonstrated significantly higher cumulative functional recovery at 3 months compared to male patients.
Conclusions:
- Structural and functional deficits in acute ON evolve over time.
- Evidence suggests sex-specific differences in recovery following acute ON.
