title: Visual function more than 10 years after optic neuritis: experience of the optic neuritis treatment trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess visual function more than 10 years after an episode of optic neuritis in patients enrolled in the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal follow-up of a randomized clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vision testing included measures of visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and visual field. Quality of life was assessed with the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Examinations were completed on 319 patients. In most patients, visual function test results in the eyes that experienced optic neuritis at study entry ("affected eyes") were normal or only slightly abnormal after 9.9 to 13.7 years. Visual acuity in the affected eyes was >or=20/20 in 74%, 20/25 to 20/40 in 18%, <20/40 to 20/200 in 5%, and <20/200 in 3%. On average, visual function was worse in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) than in those without MS. Recurrent optic neuritis in either eye occurred in 35% of patients. Such attacks were more frequent in patients with MS (P <.001). The National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire scores were lower when visual acuity was abnormal and when MS was present.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most patients retained good to excellent vision more than 10 years after an attack of optic neuritis. Recurrences were more frequent in patients with MS.
authors.affiliation: Optic Neuritis Study Group Coordinating Center, Jaeb Center for Health Research, Tampa, FL 33647, USA.
authors.forename: Roy W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: Robin L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Gal
authors.forename: M Tariq
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Bhatti
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Brodsky
authors.forename: Edward G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.forename: Georgia A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Chrousos
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Corbett
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eggenberger
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Goodwin
authors.forename: Barrett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: David I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Keltner
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kupersmith
authors.forename: Neil R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Pamela S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Moke
authors.forename: Sarkis
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nazarian
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Orengo-Nania
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Savino
authors.forename: William T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Shults
authors.forename: Craig H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Trobe
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wall
authors.forename: Dongyuan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xing
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.) / Q000592:standards; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012008:Recurrence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014787:Vision Tests; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids