Intereye differences in thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer may help distinguish NMO from MS.
What are the relative effects of optic neuritis on the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) spectrum disease and in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS)? To find out, researchers used optical coherence tomography (OCT) to compare the RNFL thickness and macular volume in 26 patients with NMO spectrum disease, 378 patients with RRMS, and 77 healthy controls.
Among patients with unilateral optic neuritis, there were greater changes in the affected eye in patients with NMO than in those with RRMS. These changes included a thinner RNFL, smaller macular volume, and greater loss of visual acuity and low-contrast visual acuity. In both RRMS and NMO, the first episode of optic neuritis produced more damage to the RN…