Evolutive patterns of the visual field in optic neuritis

Abstract

Sixty eyes with optic neuritis in 50 patients were treated with high doses of methyl-prednisolone. A follow-up of the visual field (VF) with automated static perimetry performed with Vision Monitor (Metrovision) was realized to determine the evolutive pattern. In spite of treatment four patients showed neither improvement nor deterioration. The 56 other eyes improved dramatically. A normalization of the VF with no definite pattern was observed in 15 eyes. The evolutive pattern of the three cases with a peripheral constriction was impossible to assess because of the limits of the programme. A progressive centripetal amelioration was observed in the majority of the eyes (n = 38). The evolution was concentric with a progressive reduction of the size of the central scotoma. A fragmentation could appear and the scotoma adopted an intermediate aspect of a trifoliated pattern (three-leaf clover).

Key Words:

• optic neuritis
• evolution
• visual field
• high doses methylprednisolone