Role of Color Perimetry and Visocontrastometry in Diagnosis of Optical Neuritis

Abstract

The most sensitive method for assessing changes in visual functions in patients with optical neuritis is chromatic computer perimetry with a red mark on a green background.

Aim. To evaluate the effectiveness of clinical and functional diagnostic methods for optical neuritis. 

Material and methods. A cross-sectional, non-randomized, comprehensive examination of 53 patients aged 19–48 years (31.65 ± 4.88), the ratio M : W = 1 : 1.2 with optic neuritis was performed. Of these, 43 cases are patients with multiple sclerosis. The control group consisted of 37 people with high visual acuity, somatically healthy, corresponding to the clinical group by sex and age.

Results. Retinal sensitivity in patients with optic neuritis according color contrast perimetry was below the norm by 21.96 %. The depth of blindspots at optical neuritis, differed in significant variability and was in the range from to 2.6 to –19.64 dB. The level of visual field defects depended on the severity of the inflammatory process and, on average, exceeded the indices of the control group by 4.64 times. The area of scotoma in optical neuritis exceeded the values of the control group by 1.81 times.

Conclusion. The most sensitive method for assessing changes in visual functions in patients with optical neuritis is chromatic perimetry with a red mark on a green background. Chromatic and achromatic visocontrastometry makes it possible to reveal a significant decrease in indices only in the high frequency range, which characterizes the state of the macular area, which generally indicates the predominant involvement of the retinal ganglion cells in the pathological process.

The most sensitive method for assessing changes in visual functions in patients with optical neuritis is chromatic perimetry with a red mark on a green background.