Longitudinal study of visual function in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis with and without a history of optic neuritis.
BACKGROUND
The contrast sensitivity test determines the quality of visual function in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The purpose of this study is to analyse changes in visual function in patients with relapsing-remitting MS with and without a history of optic neuritis (ON).


METHODS
We conducted a longitudinal study including 61 patients classified into 3 groups as follows: a) disease-free patients (control group); b) patients with MS and no history of ON; and c) patients with MS and a history of unilateral ON. All patients underwent baseline and 6-year follow-up ophthalmologic examinations, which included visual acuity and monocular and binocular Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity tests.


RESULTS
Monocular contrast sensitivity was significantly lower in MS patients with and without a history of ON than in controls both at baseline (P=.00 and P=.01, respectively) and at 6 years (P=.01 and P=.02). Patients with MS and no history of ON remained stable throughout follow-up whereas those with a history of ON displayed a significant loss of contrast sensitivity (P=.01). Visual acuity and binocular contrast sensitivity at baseline and at 6 years was significantly lower in the group of patients with a history of ON than in the control group (P=.003 and P=.002 vs P=.006 and P=.005) and the group with no history of ON (P=.04 and P=.038 vs P=.008 and P=.01). However, no significant differences were found in follow-up results (P=.1 and P=.5).


CONCLUSIONS
Monocular Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity test may be used to detect changes in visual function in patients with ON.
Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, España.
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González Gómez
Servicio de Oftalmología, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, España. Electronic address: Antoniobengar@hotmail.com.
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García-Ben
Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, España.
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Soler García
Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, España.
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García-Basterra
Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, España.
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Padilla Parrado
Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, España.
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García-Campos
D000328:Adult; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014787:Vision Tests; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*
Agudeza visual; Contrast sensitivity; Esclerosis múltiple; Función visual; Multiple sclerosis; Neuritis óptica; Optic neuritis; Pelli-Robson; Sensibilidad al contraste; Visual acuity; Visual function