Predictors of vision impairment in Multiple Sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neuroscience
• Multiple Sclerosis Research

Background:

• Visual impairment is a significant challenge for individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), impacting their overall quality of life.
• Understanding the factors contributing to visual dysfunction in MS is crucial for developing targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify predictors of visual outcomes in MS patients.
• To explore the relationship between visual function, neurological disability, and retinal atrophy.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 119 MS patients.
• Assessed visual acuity (high and low contrast), color vision, and quality of vision (VFQ-25).
• Measured neurological disability (EDSS, MSFC, BRB-N) and retinal atrophy (pRNFL, GCIPL) using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Main Results:

• MS patients exhibited impaired vision, especially those with a history of optic neuritis.
• Retinal atrophy (pRNFL, GCIPL) correlated with reduced low contrast vision and impaired color vision.
• Neurological disability (EDSS) and ganglion cell plus inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) volume were key predictors for different visual functions.

Conclusions:

• Quality of vision in MS is significantly influenced by impairments in high contrast visual acuity and color vision.
• Retinal atrophy and neurological disability are critical factors affecting visual outcomes in MS.
• OCT-based retinal measurements provide valuable insights into visual dysfunction in MS.