Evaluation of Retinal Structure and Optic Nerve Function Changes in Multiple Sclerosis: Longitudinal Study with...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Ophthalmology
• Immunology

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune CNS disease causing inflammation and demyelination.
• The optic nerve is frequently affected, though optic neuritis (ON) occurs in only 20% of patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• Compare retinal structure and optic nerve function in MS patients versus healthy controls (HCs).
• Evaluate optic nerve alterations in MS over a 1-year follow-up.
• Analyze correlations between optic nerve changes and disease parameters (duration, relapses, disability, subtypes).

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort study of 58 eyes from MS patients.
• Optic nerve function assessed via best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), contrast sensitivity, and P100 latency.
• Retinal structure evaluated using ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness via OCT and fundus photography.

Main Results:

• MS patients exhibited lower BCVA, contrast sensitivity, GCIPL, and RNFL thickness than HCs (p<0.001).
• Significant GCIPL and RNFL (nasal) thinning occurred in MS patients at 6 and 12 months (p=0.007, p=0.004).
• Disease duration and relapses correlated with delayed P100 latency (r=-0.61, p<0.001; r=-0.46, p=0.02).
• SPMS subtype showed thinner GCIPL and RNFL than RRMS.

Conclusions:

• MS patients demonstrate poorer retinal structure and optic nerve function compared to controls.
• GCIPL and RNFL thinning progresses over 6-12 months.
• These structural changes did not correlate with disease duration, relapse count, or disability level in this study.