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Visual dysfunction and retinal changes in patients with multiple sclerosis
Author(s) -
Rodrigo M.J.,
Obís J.,
Cipres Alastuey M.,
Vilades E.,
GarcíaMartín E.,
Satué M.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2016.0347
Subject(s) - nerve fiber layer , contrast (vision) , ophthalmology , retinal , visual acuity , medicine , ganglion cell layer , multiple sclerosis , optical coherence tomography , retina , ganglion , color vision , anatomy , neuroscience , psychology , optics , psychiatry , physics
Purpose To evaluate structural changes in the retina and their correlation with visual dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis. Methods Patients with multiple sclerosis ( n = 84) and healthy controls ( n = 84) underwent structural evaluation of the retinal nerve fiber layer, and macular and ganglion cell layer thicknesses using Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD‐OCT). All subjects underwent high and low contrast visual acuity, color vision (using the Farnsworth and L′Anthony desaturated D15 color tests), and contrast sensitivity vision using the Pelli Robson chart and CSV 1000E test. Results Macular, retinal nerve fiber layer, and ganglion cell layer thinning was observed in multiple sclerosis patients compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05). High and low contrast visual acuity and contrast sensitivity vision at four different spatial frequencies were significantly reduced, compared with healthy subjects (p < 0.05). Macular, retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell layer measurements correlated with high and low contrast visual acuity, and contrast sensitivity vision. Contrast sensitivity vision was the functional parameter that most strongly correlated with the structural measurements in multiple sclerosis and was associated with ganglion cell layer measurements. The L′Anthony color vision score (age‐corrected color confusion index) was associated with macular measurements. Conclusions Patients with multiple sclerosis had visual dysfunction that correlated with structural changes evaluated by SD‐OCT. Macular and ganglion cell layer measurements may be good indicators of visual impairment in multiple sclerosis patients.