Dyschromatopsia in the non-optic neuritis eyes (NON-eyes) of MS patients is due to damage of retinal ganglion cells (RGC), according to a study of 106 patients with MS. Researchers found:
• There were moderate, significant correlations between color vision and macular retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell complex (GCC), thalamus, and lesion volume within the optic radiations.
• Only GCC remained significant in a logistic regression model.
• In the final model including lesion load, and normalized brain parenchymal volume (NBPV) as markers of diffuse neuroaxonal damage, GCC remained associated with dyschromatopsia, an association that remained significant when sex, age, and disease duration were added as covariates.
Citation: Lampert EJ, Andorra M, Torres-Torres R, et al. Color vision impairment in multiple sclerosis points to retinal ganglion cell damage. [Published online ahead of print August 11, 2015]. J Neurol. doi: 10.1007/s00415-015-7876-3.