Longitudinal study of visual function in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis with and without a history of optic neuritis

Abstract Introduction 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.