Eye disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis: natural history and management

isorders in patients with multiple sclerosis: natural history and management Review (5969) Total Article Views Authors: Jennifer Graves, Laura J Balcer Published Date December 2010 Volume 2010:4 Pages 1409 - 1422 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S6383 Jennifer Graves, Laura J Balcer Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA Abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system and leading cause of disability in young adults. Vision impairment is a common component of disability for this population of patients. Injury to the optic nerve, brainstem, and cerebellum leads to characteristic syndromes affecting both the afferent and efferent visual pathways. The objective of this review is to summarize the spectrum of eye disorders in patients with MS, their natural history, and current strategies for diagnosis and management. We emphasize the most common disorders including optic neuritis and internuclear ophthalmoparesis and include new techniques, such as optical coherence tomography, which promise to better our understanding of MS and its effects on the visual system.