Residual symptoms and signs after untreated acute optic neuritis. A one-year follow-up.

PURPOSE

To study the symptoms and signs one year after optic neuritis.

METHODS

Seventy population-based untreated patients, (44F, 26M; median age 35 years, range 14-48 years) were eligible for study, but the 11 bilateral cases were excluded. Among 59 patients participating in a one-year follow-up of the visual function, 58 answered a questionnaire.

RESULTS

At follow-up 59% of the patients complained of visual impairment, though 49% of these patients had a Snellen visual acuity of 6/9 or better. The affected eyes showed decreased visual acuity in 34%, decreased contrast sensitivity in 63%, an abnormal score in 40% with the Lanthony D-15 desaturated panel, and in 13% with the Ishihara test, prolonged latencies of VEP in 58%, and decreased amplitudes of VEP in 41%.

CONCLUSIONS

All tests except for VEP correlated significantly to the degree of perceived visual impairment. Subjective visual complaints and more sensitive tests than visual acuity should be used to evaluate the visual function following optic neuritis.