doi:10.1177/1352458510397414engGarcia-Martin, EPueyo, VAra, JRAlmarcegui, CMartin, JPablo, LDolz, ISancho, EFernandez, FJEffect of optic neuritis on progressive axonal damage in multiple sclerosis patientsART-2011-149301Objective: The objective of this research was to study the effect of optic neuritis (ON) on axonal damage in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Specifically, we compared changes over 2 years in the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) between affected and contralateral eyes in MS patients with a prior history of ON. Methods: Thirty-four patients with one unilateral definitive episode of ON were included and underwent a complete ophthalmic examination, optical coherence tomography (OCT), scanning laser polarimetry, visual evoked potentials (VEP) and pattern electroretinogram (pERG). All patients were re-evaluated at 12 and 24 months. Parameters were compared between ON-affected and contralateral eyes in an initial exploration and over the course of the follow-up. Correlations between parameter changes were analysed. Results: RNFL thickness and functional parameters showed more affection in ON eyes (p ≤ 0.05), but changes in measurements during the study were similar between both groups of eyes. Conclusions: Progressive axonal loss can be detected in the optic nerve, but ON is not a risk factor for increased chronic damage in MS patients without ophthalmic relapses. Loss of the RNFL is caused by progressive degeneration associated with the disease.2011http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/17125610.1177/1352458510397414http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/171256oai:zaguan.unizar.es:171256MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS 17, 7 (2011), 830-837All rights reservedhttp://www.europeana.eu/rights/rr-f/info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess