Vision loss

Using noninvasive eye scans may help clinicians to determine if patients — particularly those in early disease stages — have neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) or multiple sclerosis (MS), both immune system disorders. That’s according to a review of published studies that together reveal that people with NMOSD…

Higher levels of self-reactive antibodies against aquaporin-4 protein (AQP4), which drives neuroinflammation in most cases of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), correlate with more severe relapses and visual disability, according to a large study. Even after treatment with immunosuppressive agents, patients with high anti-AQP4 antibodies experienced more severe relapses.

Having optic neuritis — inflammation of the nerves that relay information between the eyes and the brain — as a first symptom of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is one of the factors that predict visual disability in up to five years, according to a study in China. Other…

People with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who are diagnosed with at least one non-immune system comorbidity, or simultaneous disease, are at a higher risk of vision loss and paralysis than those without such conditions, a study found. NMOSD patients with these comorbidities also were significantly more likely to…

Impairments in the visual field — the total area in which objects can be seen in a person’s peripheral vision — were found in adults with optic neuritis (ON) related to neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), according to a new study. NMOSD patients with optic neuritis had more visual…

When I was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), and five years later, properly diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica (NMO), I was told that a hallmark symptom of each disease was optic neuritis. This occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the optic nerve, causing inflammation, which can lead to…

A vision test using a 2.5%-contrast letter chart is more effective than the conventional 100%-contrast chart at detecting previous episodes of optic neuritis, an eye condition that is often the first symptom of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a study shows. Results, drawn from responses in unaffected people and those…