Comparison of Visual Field Parameters in Early and Advanced Stages of Multiple Sclerosis Patients Without a History of Optic Neuritis

This study compared the visual field parameters of multiple sclerosis patients without optic neuritis in early versus advanced stage of the disease. Patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (early stage, n = 14) constituted of patients with Expanded Disability Status Scale scores <3 and group 2 (advanced stage, n = 13) constituted of patients with Expanded Disability Status Scale scores >= 3. Mean visual acuities in both groups were similar (p = 0.674). Mean sensitivity, mean defect, loss of variance, reliability factor parameters (Octopus 101 perimeter) of groups 1 and 2 were 24.17 +/- 3.62, 21.81 +/- 3.04; 4.14 +/- 3.05, 6.49 +/- 2.58; 21.61 +/- 22.17, 33.31 +/- 18.67; and 1.57 +/- 2.79, 2.59 +/- 3.09, respectively. Compared with group 1, mean sensitivity was significantly lower in group 2 (p = 0.013). Mean defect (p = 0.004) and loss of variance (p = 0.042) parameters in group 2 were significantly higher than in group 1. Mean reliability factor was similar between two groups (p = 0.211). Multiple scleorisis may alter visual field parameters without severe loss of visual acuity by possibly involving optic pathways other than optic nerve.