Visual function more than 10 years after optic neuritis: experience of the optic neuritis treatment trial.
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.
Beck
Roy W
RW
Optic Neuritis Study Group Coordinating Center, Jaeb Center for Health Research, Tampa, FL 33647, USA.
Gal
Robin L
RL
Bhatti
M Tariq
MT
Brodsky
Michael C
MC
Buckley
Edward G
EG
Chrousos
Georgia A
GA
Corbett
James
J
Eggenberger
Eric
E
Goodwin
James A
JA
Katz
Barrett
B
Kaufman
David I
DI
Keltner
John L
JL
Kupersmith
Mark J
MJ
Miller
Neil R
NR
Moke
Pamela S
PS
Nazarian
Sarkis
S
Orengo-Nania
Silvia
S
Savino
Peter J
PJ
Shults
William T
WT
Smith
Craig H
CH
Trobe
Jonathan D
JD
Wall
Michael
M
Xing
Dongyuan
D
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*
D005938:Glucocorticoids