Capturing the Efferent Side of Vision in Multiple Sclerosis: New Data from a Digitized Rapid Number Naming Task (.pdf)

Visual function in multiple sclerosis (MS) has been well characterized from an afferent standpoint using low-contrast acuity, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and quality of life (QOL). Compared to controls, patients with MS also demonstrate slowed reading times on the King-Devick (K-D) test, a rapid number naming task that captures widely distributed aspects of efferent function, particularly saccades. Slowed times in MS are associated with neurologic dysfunction and reduced vision-specific (QOL). However, the ocular motor underpinnings of such slowing have not been determined. We sought to determine ocular motor performance and characterize deficits leading to slowed KD reading times using recorded eye movements during a digitized King-Devick (K-D) test.