Microperimetry as a diagnostic tool for the detection of early, subclinical retinal damage and visual impairment in multiple sclerosis.

Background: A majority of multiple sclerosis patients experience visual impairment, often as the initial presenting symptom of the disease. While structural changes in the retinal nerve fiber layer and optic nerve have demonstrated correlations with brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis using magnetic resonance imaging, a non-invasive, cost-effective, and clinically efficacious modality to identify early damage and facilitate prompt therapeutic intervention to slow the progression of multiple sclerosis and its ocular manifestations, is still urgently needed. In this study, we sought to determine the role of macular sensitivity measured by microperimetry in the detection of subclinical multiple sclerosis-related retinal damage and visual dysfunction.

Spasmus nutans-like nystagmus is often associated with underlying ocular, intracranial, or systemic abnormalities.

Background: There is uncertainty as to whether spasmus nutans (SN) is an isolated idiopathic entity or whether there are underlying conditions that could cause or be associated with the nystagmus. We undertook this study to determine the frequency of ocular, intracranial, and systemic conditions in patients with nystagmus having characteristics of SN.

Methods: We performed a chart review of 22 consecutive patients examined from 2000 through 2005 at the Dean McGee Eye Institute and Children' Hospital of Oklahoma with nystagmus consistent with SN.