Visual function in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and optic neuritis

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neurology
• Visual Science

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease affecting the central nervous system.
• Optic neuritis (ON) is a common early symptom of MS, impacting visual pathways.
• Visual function deficits are prevalent in MS patients, influencing quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic capabilities of various visual functions in differentiating MS patients from healthy controls.
• To assess visual function changes in MS patients with and without a history of ON.
• To identify specific visual parameters that can aid in MS diagnosis and monitoring.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study comparing refractive error, visual acuity (VA), and contrast sensitivity (CS) in MS patients and matched healthy controls.
• MS patients were stratified into groups with and without ON.
• Statistical analysis was performed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of different visual parameters.

Main Results:

• MS patients exhibited reduced best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and altered spherical refractive error compared to controls.
• Contrast sensitivity (CS) was decreased in MS patients at 6 and 18 cycles per degree (CPD).
• ON further reduced CS at 3 CPD in MS patients. Cylindrical component and CS at 6 CPD showed high sensitivity for distinguishing MS groups, while BCVA and CS at 12 CPD demonstrated high specificity.

Conclusions:

• Refractive error and CS are significantly affected by MS, with ON exacerbating CS deficits.
• Visual function assessments, including refractive error and CS, are valuable tools for MS monitoring and management.
• These findings underscore the importance of comprehensive visual examinations in the care of MS patients.