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Trans-orbital sonography of the optic nerve in multiple sclerosis
Seyedehnarges Tabatabaee1, Negin Eissazade2,3, Zahra Mirzaasgari1
1Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Plos One
|November 17, 2025
Summary
Trans-orbital sonography reveals smaller optic nerve diameter (OND) and optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, particularly those with optic neuritis. These measurements may serve as valuable structural markers for MS.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neurology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Trans-orbital sonography (TOS) is a non-invasive method for assessing optic nerve damage.
- Optic nerve diameter (OND) and optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) can be measured using TOS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare OND and ONSD between multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and healthy controls.
- To investigate the relationship between OND, ONSD, and their ratio with clinical and paraclinical factors in MS.
Main Methods:
- A comparative cross-sectional study involving 56 MS patients and 60 healthy controls.
- Sonographic assessment of OND and ONSD using an ultrasound machine with an 8-MHz linear probe.
- MS diagnosis was based on the 2017 revised McDonald criteria.
Main Results:
- Patients with MS exhibited significantly smaller OND and ONSD compared to controls, even after age adjustment.
- Reductions in OND and ONSD were more pronounced in MS patients with a history of optic neuritis.
- Infratentorial lesions were associated with smaller right ONSD, but OND/ONSD ratio was unaffected by optic neuritis.
Conclusions:
- Reduced OND and ONSD in MS patients suggest potential subclinical optic nerve atrophy.
- OND and ONSD show promise as structural markers for MS.
- Further longitudinal studies are required to validate the diagnostic and prognostic value of these sonographic markers.
