Study and Treatment of Visual Dysfunction and Motor Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2019-03-31
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Primary fatigue represents a major cause of disability in patients with multiple sclerosis
(MS), being reported in about 90% of cases. Fatigue interferes with everyday functioning but,
unfortunately, little is known about its mechanisms. The investigators propose a
characteristic eye movement abnormality (internuclear ophthalmoparesis, INO), commonly
encountered in MS, as a simple model for primary motor fatigue. The investigators described
worsening of ocular performance in MS patients with INO following visual tasks (ocular motor
fatigue), which is likely due to decreased neural conduction along brain pathways injured by
MS. This mechanism could represent a major component of MS-related primary motor fatigue.
Relevant to Veterans' care, INO is a significant cause of visual disability, especially when
complicated by ocular fatigue, and limits daily activities such as reading and driving. The
investigators propose a medical treatment to improve ocular performance/fatigue in INO, which
can reduce visual disability and improve quality of life in Veterans with MS.