Optic neuritis, confirmed by visual evoked response, and the risk for multiple sclerosis: a prospective survey.
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Publications and source records attributed to G H van Lith.
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The disparity between clinical visual function and pattern visual evoked response (VER) was studied in 53 patients who had suffered an attack of optic neuritis (ON) more than six months before. The visual functions tested included Snellen visual acuity, colour vision, visual field, and contrast sensitivity. The effect of pattern presentation, check size, and luminance was tested by recording VERs with several stimulus configurations. VER amplitudes were found to be associated with the outcome of all four clinical tests, independently of check size, luminance, or the presentation method used. On the other hand VER latencies were hardly ever related to the results of any of the four clinical visual tests. These findings support the idea that VER amplitude provides information about visual spatial perception, while VER latency is more related to the extent of demyelination.
A group of 53 patients who had suffered an attack of unilateral (n = 45) or bilateral (n = 8) optic neuritis more than six months before were subjected to a battery of tests to determine their spatial contrast sensitivity, visual field, and colour vision. The 106 eyes investigated were classified according to their clinical status and visual acuity at the time of the study into unaffected (n = 45), recovered (n = 33), and non-recovered (n = 28). At least one of the three tests gave an abnormal result in 67%, 88%, 100% of the three groups respectively. The results obtained with these three tests showed a significant statistical association.
The pattern-elicited electroretinogram (PERG) was recorded in 75 patients known with glaucoma, each one of them having a normal visual acuity, and compared with the results in normal test subjects. Although there is a great overlap between normal and glaucomatous eyes, a lower average amplitude and a delay in latency is recorded in the case of glaucoma. A correlation was sought between the PERG outcome on the one hand and different glaucomatous parameters (visual field loss, intraocular pressure, cup disc/ratio) on the other; this could only be confirmed for the cup/disc ratio. In beginning glaucoma the PERG is more often disturbed than the VECP.
The pattern ERG is recorded in 54 patients in the acute phase of an optic neuritis. No differences could be recorded between the group of patients and a group of normal test subjects.
To find out the most sensitive parameter of early toxic ocular changes, a group of patients was extensively examined at regular intervals during therapy with ethambutol. Colour vision abnormalities could be detected using the desaturated panel of Lanthony in the presence of normal visual acuity, normal visual fields, normal visual-evoked potentials and a normal panel D-15 test. Major blue-yellow errors were found in treated patients without visual complaints as well as in a group of healthy volunteers, but there was a significant difference between both groups. In a later stage of intoxication, blue defects, red-green defects or tritanomalous defects can be observed, together with other symptoms of ocular intoxication.
The pattern-elicited electroretinogram may be a useful tool for a further refinement of electro-ophthalmological diagnosis. Before being able to detect abnormalities under various pathological conditions, it is necessary to standardize the procedure and calculate the values for normal human test subjects. The routine procedure for these experiments is described and the data obtained are presented. This method appears to be reproducible and useful and is little time consuming in a diagnostic laboratory set-up.
In a retrospective study of 18 patients, in which 19 eyes were involved, we found in general during the acute phase of an anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy, i.e., within 4 weeks, markedly delayed and reduced pattern-evoked potentials, normal electroretinograms, and decreased electro-oculograms following light stimulation with normal standing potentials. Apart from some sclerosis of the vessels, no other abnormalities of the retinal circulation could be established in our patients. The explanation for the lowered light rise might be the partial and temporary disturbance of the choroidal circulation, which is not extensive enough to influence also the more variable standing potential. In long-standing cases the pattern-evoked potentials seem to remain abnormal, whereas the decreased electro-oculogram following light stimulation recovers.
In a group of 33 patients with hemianopia, interhemispherical differences of the visually evoked potentials after pattern stimulation were studied. Both full field stimulation and vertical half field stimulation were applied. The results were not consistent, i.e. interhemispherical differences were not always according to the hemianopia. In general, with hemifield stimulation a better score was obtained. Differences between vascular accidents and tumours as the underlying cause of the hemianopia could not be established. With full-field stimulation and a midline electrode hemianopias could not reliably be detected.
Visually evoked potentials on pattern stimulation are lowered by cataracts via scatter, absorption and defocusing. These effects have to be known before pattern stimulation can be fruitfully applied in patients when a lowered vision cannot or can hardly be explained by the cataract. It was remarkable that pattern responses were relatively good as compared to visual acuity. With a pattern of 80' check size and 80% contrast all patients with a visual acuity of more than 0.1 had recognizable responses; this holds also true with 40' check size and 40% contrast in all patients with a visual acuity of more than 0.3. Reversely, with 10' check size and 10% contrast only half of the normal subjects had detectable responses.
In 203 senile cataractous eyes preoperative results of photopic flash ERGs and VERs were compared with the optimum visual acuity after cataract extraction. Because preoperatively for some reason a good function of the retina or the conductive system was questionable, patients were referred to the electro-ophthalmological department. This encompassed approximately 10% of patients with a senile cataract. The relationships found indicated that the photopic flash ERGs and VERs are a good support for estimating post-operative visual function.
In clinical and in vitro conditions, the effect of intravitreously injected silicone oil upon the electroretinogram and electrooculogram was investigated. The recorded potentials were lower in the eyes with silicone oil compared to those in which the retinas were reattached without silicone. Retinal changes, caused by the previously existing detachment and the operations already performed, are discussed as possible factors responsible for lower values of the recorded potentials. No arguments could be found in favor of silicone retinopathy.
It is stressed that not only demyelinating diseases, but also compressive lesions along the anterior visual pathways, may cause severely disturbed or clearly delayed occipital potentials to pattern reversal stimulation. Only tumors exerting real pressure on optic nerve fibres cause these relatively marked disturbances of the pattern responses. Such tumors are tumors of the optic nerve itself, those along the optic canal, at the base of the anterior fossa or around the chiasm, and not tumors of the orbit or those situated beyond the chiasm.
A disadvantage of commercially available averagers is the time needed for the output routine. This paper describes a microcomputer, programmed as an averager, with additional features to obtain an examination time as short as possible, which indeed is important for clinical application. Through this apparatus, the time needed for a standard ERG and VECP examination could be reduced from 50 to 25 min.
The amplitude and the light rise of the standing potential of the eye were measured in a group of 20 male and 10 female health young subjects. The basic value itself, if measured in the steady state, has a variability not far from its light rise, so it can also be applied clinically. The median base value in our group was 362 microV, with normal limits of 233 and 680 microV. If the light rise is calculated in relation to its basic level, the variability of such a ratio is lower than the variability of the light peak/dark trough ratio. The mean value of our ratio wa 2.19 with a lower limit of 1.57. Maximal normal difference between two eyes of the same subject was 122 microV for the basic value, and 0.45 for the ratio.
In retinal detachments the scotopic ERG is generally more disturbed than the photopic ERG; both are more disturbed than would be expected from the visible detached retina. The disturbance is characterized by a reduction of both the a-wave and the b-wave. Furthermore, the photopic responses are clearly delayed when the detachment extends over more than half of the retina, giving a typical, even pathognomonic, wave form when the detachment covers more than three quarters of the retina. Even in total detachments, such a response, though very small, can usually be obtained, as well as a VECP after strong light flashes. Most likely they are responses of the detached retina.
To investigate the standing potential and its light rise in retinal detachments, a group of 33 patients was examined preoperatively. The group was divided into 3 subgroups according to the extent of the detachment. Apart from practical interest, this investigation was carried out to answer the question whether contact between the pigment epithelium and the receptor layer is necessary for the generation of the standing potential. This appeared not to be the case, on the contrary the standing potential was often higher. The EOG light rise, on the other hand, was more distributed in comparison with the extent of the detachment. Various features of the EOG may be explained, if we assume an inhibitory action of the retina on the generator of the standing potential under normal conditions.
In five patients with a tilted disc syndrome the visually evoke potentials were examined by means of pattern stimulation. It was hoped that by such an examination this syndrome could be distinguished from a chiasma syndrome, since it is known that compression of the anterior visual pathways causes delayed responses, whereas defects or atrophies generally do not. In 4 patients, however, delayed responses were found and they were not found in only one patient.