Neuromyelitis optica and multiple sclerosis: Seeing differences through optical coherence tomography
Abstract
Introduction

Methods
OCT findings in NMOSD
RNFL and macula
NMO-ON | MS-ON | HCs | Comments | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Visual impairment | Severe | Moderate | – | Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity recovery after ON attacks in NMO is lower than in MS, and blindness is not uncommon in NMO; altitudinal loss may be eventually seen in NMO, but not in MS |
Funduscopy | Disc atrophy and vascular changes with ‘frosting’ | Segmental disc atrophy without venous sheathing | – | Vascular changes seen in eyes with ON in NMO: attenuation of arterioles in the peripapillary retina, often with accompanying venous changes |
Optic nerve OCTa | ||||
Average RNFL thickness | 55–83 µm | 74–95 µm | 93–108 µm | Reduction of peripapillary RNFL thickness in NMO is basically attack-related; MS patients may have RNFL reduction in non-ON eyes. Superior and inferior RNFL predominantly affected in NMO compared to temporal RNFL in MS. |
Superior | 66–100 µm | 90–117 µm | 121–136 µm | |
Inferior | 64–99 µm | 92–117 µm | 127–138 µm | |
Temporal | 39–63 µm | 50–67 µm | 67–79 µm | |
Nasal | 29–75 µm | 42–88 µm | 74–97 µm | |
Maculab | Retinal thickness, total macular volume, and GCL/GC+IPL thickness are usually lower in affected eyes from NMO than MS, while INL/INL+OPL is often thicker in NMO. | |||
Microcystic macular edema (MME) | 20–26% | 5–6% | 0% | MME eyes have lower pRNFL thickness, and VA than non-MME eyes |

OCT measures and visual function
OCT measures in NMOSD eyes without ON
Macular changes including microcystic macular edema (MME)
OCT measures and clinical disability
ON and OCT in pediatric NMO
Association of OCT measures with brain volume
Effect of relapse treatment on OCT measures and visual function
Value of OCT for differential diagnosis
Future prospects
Acknowledgments
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