title: Visual function in patients with optic nerve pallor (optic atrophy).
abstract: This cross-sectional study assessed the relationship between the degree of optic nerve pallor (optic atrophy) and visual function. Using a set of "gold standard" stereoscopic slides, the severity of optic atrophy for 270 eyes, each having sustained a bout of optic neuropathy, was graded. Good visual acuity was found in 55/86 (64.0%) mild, 54/119 (45.4%) moderate, and 21/65 (32.3%) marked optic atrophy eyes. Good visual field was found in 6/28 (21.4%) mild, 4/43 (9.3%) moderate, and 2/28 (7.1%) marked optic atrophy eyes. Good color vision was found in 31/46 (67.4%) mild, 12/62 (19.4%) moderate, and 7/31 (22.6%) marked optic atrophy eyes. A significant rank correlation was observed between optic atrophy and visual acuity (P < 0.001; rs = 0.356), visual field (P < 0.001; rs = -0.398), and color vision (P < 0.001; rs = -0.492). As the graded severity of optic atrophy increases, the proportion of eyes with good visual function decreases. Visual field, rather than visual acuity or color vision, appears to be a better indicator of the severity of visual loss, when optic atrophy is present.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Mason Eye Institute and Biostatistics Division of Integrated Technology Services, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri 65212, USA.
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: DeWitt
authors.forename: Lenworth N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Dana B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Schoenleber
authors.forename: Dean P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Hainsworth
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Madsen
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D009896:Optic Atrophy; D009900:Optic Nerve; D010167:Pallor; D014794:Visual Fields