Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026
The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test MSPT: An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool
Published on: June 30, 2014
Evaluation of multiple sclerosis severity using a new OCT tool
Elisa Viladés1,2, Beatriz Cordón1,2, Javier Pérez-Velilla1
1Miguel Servet Ophthalmology Research and Innovation Group (GIMSO), Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragón), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
Purpose:
To assess the ability of a new posterior pole protocol to detect areas with significant differences in retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness in patients with multiple sclerosis versus healthy control subjects; in addition, to assess the correlation between RNFL and GCL thickness, disease duration, and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS).
Methods:
We analyzed 66 eyes of healthy control subjects and 100 eyes of remitting-relapsing multiple sclerosis (RR-MS) patients. Double analysis based on first clinical symptom onset (CSO) and conversion to clinically definite MS (CDMS) was performed. The RR-MS group was divided into subgroups by CSO and CDMS year: CSO-1 (≤ 5 years) and CSO-2 (≥ 6 years), and CDMS-1 (≤ 5 years) and CDMS-2 (≥ 6 years).
Results:
Significant differences in RNFL and GCL thickness were found between the RR-MS group and the healthy controls and between the CSO and CDMS subgroups and in both layers. Moderate to strong correlations were found between RNFL and GCL thickness and CSO and CDMS. Furthermore, we observed a strong correlation with EDSS 1 year after the OCT examination.
Conclusions:
The posterior pole protocol is a useful tool for assessing MS and can reveal differences even in early stages of the disease. RNFL thickness shows a strong correlation with disability status, while GCL thickness correlates better with disease duration.
