Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by demyelination and axonal damage within the central nervous system, leading to an array of symptoms. The impact of MS on sensory perception-particularly color vision-has garnered increasing attention. In the literature 65% of People with MS (PwMS) failed at least one of the color tests, indicating huge color vision abnormalities, ranging from subtle deficits to pronounced impairments, in a big percentage of them. The etiology of these abnormalities remains multifactorial, with demyelination of optic nerve fibers, retinal ganglion cell dysfunction, and cortico-cortical communication implicated in their pathogenesis. Emerging evidence suggests a potential association between specific patterns of retinal nerve fiber layer thinning and the severity of color vision deficits, highlighting the utility of optical coherence tomography in elucidating underlying mechanisms. Various tests that measure the relationship between physical stimuli and psychological responses, including color discrimination and hue discrimination tasks, have demonstrated that the deficits of color could be useful in finding some abnormalities. The most commonly reported deficits include reduced color contrast sensitivity, impaired color discrimination along the blue-yellow axis, and alterations in color appearance such as color desaturation and color distortion. The impact of MS-related color vision impairment extends beyond visual perception, influencing daily activities such as driving, reading, and navigating the environment. Consequently, a comprehensive assessment of color vision perceptions should be integrated into routine clinical evaluations to facilitate early detection of sensory abnormalities, optimize treatment planning, and improve patient outcomes. This article is a proof of concept to evaluate the relationship between visual deficits and color perception abnormalities, evaluate the tests and tools available, and open the possibility of introducing the color perception assessment in the clinical anamnesis to evaluate how to use that information for future rehabilitation programs. Future research utilizing advanced imaging techniques and behavioral measurements is needed to better understand the underlying pathophysiology and improve outcomes.

Shades of Perception: Understanding Color Vision Impairments in Multiple Sclerosis

Teresa L'Abbate
;
Alessandro Bortolotti;Laura Marzetti;
2024-01-01

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by demyelination and axonal damage within the central nervous system, leading to an array of symptoms. The impact of MS on sensory perception-particularly color vision-has garnered increasing attention. In the literature 65% of People with MS (PwMS) failed at least one of the color tests, indicating huge color vision abnormalities, ranging from subtle deficits to pronounced impairments, in a big percentage of them. The etiology of these abnormalities remains multifactorial, with demyelination of optic nerve fibers, retinal ganglion cell dysfunction, and cortico-cortical communication implicated in their pathogenesis. Emerging evidence suggests a potential association between specific patterns of retinal nerve fiber layer thinning and the severity of color vision deficits, highlighting the utility of optical coherence tomography in elucidating underlying mechanisms. Various tests that measure the relationship between physical stimuli and psychological responses, including color discrimination and hue discrimination tasks, have demonstrated that the deficits of color could be useful in finding some abnormalities. The most commonly reported deficits include reduced color contrast sensitivity, impaired color discrimination along the blue-yellow axis, and alterations in color appearance such as color desaturation and color distortion. The impact of MS-related color vision impairment extends beyond visual perception, influencing daily activities such as driving, reading, and navigating the environment. Consequently, a comprehensive assessment of color vision perceptions should be integrated into routine clinical evaluations to facilitate early detection of sensory abnormalities, optimize treatment planning, and improve patient outcomes. This article is a proof of concept to evaluate the relationship between visual deficits and color perception abnormalities, evaluate the tests and tools available, and open the possibility of introducing the color perception assessment in the clinical anamnesis to evaluate how to use that information for future rehabilitation programs. Future research utilizing advanced imaging techniques and behavioral measurements is needed to better understand the underlying pathophysiology and improve outcomes.
2024
978-88-99513-23-8
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11564/847253
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