ABSTRACT
@#AIM: To identify a link between optical coherence tomography(OCT), length of multiple sclerosis(MS)and the expanded disability status scale(EDSS).<p>METHODS: In a prospective double blind study, 29 patients with a diagnosis of MS were compared with 29 healthy patients, matched by age and sex. All participants underwent an OCT study and neurological EDSS test on the same day.<p>RESULTS: The mean EDSS score was 3.2 in the MS group <i>vs</i> 0.03 in the control group, and the duration of MS was 11.7y. The mean retinal nerve fiber layer(RNFL)thickness was significantly thinner in those with MS <i>(P</i><0.001). Correlation was found between duration of MS and RNFL thinning. EDSS and thinning of RNFL showed a tendency to correlate but without statistical significance.<p>CONCLUSION: RNFL is thinner in MS patients than in the general population. MS duration has a direct statistically significant effect on RNFL thickness. There seems to be a tendency of a relationship between RNFL thinning and EDSS. OCT is suggested as a monitoring and evaluation tool of MS patients.