Eye examination helps diagnose multiple sclerosis

A simple eye test that takes only a few minutes, developed by American scientists, promises to be a simple and quick method of early detection of multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord nerves, causing problems with movement, balance and vision. Currently, experts have yet to find a definitive treatment for the disease, but they believe that early detection and treatment can help delay the course of the disease.

In a 2-year study, experts from the John Hopkins University School of Medicine applied the retinal tomography (OCT) method to measure the thickness of nerve fibers located behind the retina. Unlike brain neurons that are usually protected by the myelin sheath, retinal neurons of people with multiple sclerosis are compromised, so this is a lack of myelin sheath. Therefore, experts believe that the OCT method will help them recognize early signs of disease from the retina.

The trial was conducted on 164 people who showed that people with thin retinas were early signs of the disease and confirmed by brain scanning (which is more complex). The team hopes new techniques will be improved and soon applied widely in diagnosing diseases.