Visual Functions in Patients with Optic Neuritis Pre and Post Treatment: An Observational Study

Optic neuritis is an inflammatory condition affecting the optic nerve. It presents with sudden diminution of vision, also affecting colour vision, contrast sensitivity and stereoacuity. Steroids are given in optic neuritis to reduce inflammation of optic nerve. The aim of this study was to compare the visual functions in patients with optic neuritis before and after treatment with steroid therapy.

This prospective study was conducted from November 2021 to October 2022 in the Department of Ophthalmology of a tertiary-level hospital. Thirty-seven eyes affected by optic neuritis of were included in the study. All the patients were given IV methylprednisolone for 3 consecutive days followed by oral prednisolone for 11 days in tapering doses. Visual functions such as visual acuity, colour vision, contrast sensitivity and stereoacuity at presentation and after treatment were compared.

Among 37 eyes, 24 (64.86%) had best corrected visual acuity <1/60-perception of light at presentation, improving after six weeks with 21 (56.76%) achieving visual acuity 6/6-6/18. At presentation, only 1 (2.71%) had normal colour vision while at six weeks, 9 (24.32%) had normal colour vision. Contrast sensitivity could not be assessed in 29 (78.37%) cases at presentation due to poor vision, which reduced to 12 (32.43%) at six weeks. None had good stereoacuity at presentation; however, 6 (16.22%) had good stereoacuity after six weeks.

The study showed that steroid therapy improved visual functions in patients with optic neuritis.