Retinal nerve fiber layer atrophy in patients with multiple sclerosis: Longitudinal 5 years study

Abstract

PurposeTo evaluate changes in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thicknesses in multilple sclerosis (MS) patients compared with healthy subjects during 5 years of follow up. To compare ability of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and visual field test to detect axonal damage.MethodsFifty eyes of 50 MS patients and 50 eyes of 50 healthy controls were included. All of them underwent measurements of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) refractive defect, color vision, visual field, and OCT (Spectralis OCT). All of them were annual re‐evaluated during 5 years. Change in both groups (MS patients and healthy controls) were evaluated and compared using paired T Student′s test.ResultsWe found decrease in all RNFL thicknesses during the 5 years follow‐up in both groups (patients and controls), and the changes were significant higher in MS group (T Student′s, p ≤ 0.05). No differences were found between patients and controls in visual functional tests (BCVA, color vision test and visual field). Higher change was found in inferior quadrant (113.67 in baseline and 105.39 μm in 5 years visit in MS group, p < 0.001). Correlations between structural and functional tests were found, but not between the changes in both tests during the 5 years follow up.ConclusionsMS progression causes axonal damage that can be detected by OCT but not by visual functional tests.