Optical coherence tomography is supported and used as a technique for visualisation of neuro-axonal loss in
multiple sclerosis, but there are also a few studies expressing the opposite view. The aim of our study was to investigate
retinal nerve fibre layer and optic nerve head parameters in patients with
multiple sclerosis without a history of prior
optic neuritis and symptoms of a new clinical attack during the follow-up for a total of 20-month period. Full ophthalmic evaluation was performed for all of the participants. The baseline
retinal nerve fibre layer and macular thicknesses and focal and global loss of macular volume values were significantly lower in the eyes of the patients with
multiple sclerosis compared with the healthy controls. No significant change between baseline and follow-up scans were found in all optical coherence tomography parameters in the
multiple sclerosis group. Statistical analyses revealed significant
retinal nerve fibre layer and macular thickness differences between baseline and second measurements in the controls. No significant difference in percent change between baseline and second measurements was observed between the patient and control groups. We conclude that whereas healthy subjects have an age-related tendency toward a decrease in
retinal nerve fibre layer thickness, patients with
multiple sclerosis patients are likely to pass through different stages of
retinal thinning and thickening due to subclinical
optic neuritis and, as a result, we could not detect any statistically significant change between baseline and second measurements in our
multiple sclerosis patients.