OBJECTIVES: Subjective @entity227 are common after demyelinating @entity7995 despite the frequent return of normal visual acuity. Visual and electrodiagnostic tests have demonstrated evidence of these persisting functional abnormalities, which are thought to be secondary to @entity17 and variable axonal loss in the optic nerve. @entity4653 ( @entity4653 ) is a new image analysis technique which uses the polarising properties of the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) to produce a quantitative measure of its thickness. This study was carried out to assess the prevalence, extent, and pattern of RNFL loss after demyelinating @entity7995 using @entity4653 . METHODS: Twenty four @entity1 with a history of previous demyelinating @entity7995 were re-examined. Examination included measurement of logmar visual acuity, Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity, and the presence of a relative afferent @entity2300 and @entity1952 . @entity4653 was performed and a mean RNFL profile from a series of three images from each eye was constructed. This was compared with normative data from 20 age matched normal subjects. The lower 99.9% confidence limit of the normal data was calculated and used as the cut off criterion for abnormality. RESULTS: There were a total of 31 eyes with a history of demyelinating @entity7995 and @entity4653 disclosed an abnormality in 29 (94%) of these. Twenty three eyes recovered an acuity of 0.0 or better, 21 of which had evidence of RNFL loss on polarimetry. @entity4653 was the only abnormality found in nine of the 31 eyes (29%). The pattern and extent of RNFL loss was very variable and there was no significant difference in these indices between @entity1 with @entity15 compared with those with isolated demyelinating @entity7995 . CONCLUSION: @entity4653 can provide a quantitative measure of RNFL loss after demyelinating @entity7995 , demonstrating its occurrence in a high percentage of @entity1 recovering normal visual acuity.

Measurement of the retinal nerve fibre layer with scanning laser polarimetry in XXXX with previous demyelinating @entity7995 .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity17 :: ('MESH:D003711', 'Disease') :: ['demyelination'] @entity227 :: ('MESH:D014786', 'Disease') :: ['visual deficits'] @entity1952 :: ('MESH:D009896', 'Disease') :: ['optic atrophy'] @entity7995 :: ('MESH:D009902', 'Disease') :: ['optic neuritis'] @entity2300 :: ('MESH:D011681', 'Disease') :: ['pupil defect'] @entity15 :: ('MESH:D009103', 'Disease') :: ['multiple sclerosis'] @entity4653 :: ('MESH:D004401', 'Disease') :: ['Scanning laser polarimetry', 'SLP']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['patients']
