Stereoacuity testing discloses abnormalities in multiple sclerosis without optic neuritis.

BACKGROUND

We aimed to determine the value of stereoacuity testing in detecting subclinical disease activity in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) without a history or clinical evidence of optic neuritis.

METHODS

We enrolled 23 patients with MS and 23 age-matched and sex-matched healthy control subjects with Snellen acuities of 20/20 in both eyes. We recorded monocular pattern visual evoked potentials (PVEPs) to 60-minute and 15-minute check sizes and tested stereoacuity by the Randot stereoacuity (RSA) test.

RESULTS

The MS group showed delayed PVEP latencies to 60-minute and 15-minute patterns (P < 0.001 and 0.002). Stereoacuity by the RSA test was significantly worse in patients with MS than in control subjects (P < 0.001). In the MS group, the PVEP P100 latency and the RSA values showed significant positive correlations. There was no significant correlation between the time from MS diagnosis and the RSA and PVEP values.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on this study, patients with MS without optic neuritis have considerable abnormalities in stereopsis. RSA testing may be a useful marker of subclinical disease activity in this condition.