VEP Results - What now?

New diagnosis and before diagnosis
1

Hi Folks,

This is my first post so please be gentle! 2 years ago I had an attack of optic neuritis and was referred by my optometrist to a neuroopthalmologist after an abnormal OCT scan showing pale and atrophic optic disc. After examination and further tests including another OCT I was diagnosed with atypical optic neuritis and referred for an MRI and to a neurologist.

The neurologist was a bit of an arse to be honest, he was running behind with his appointments and rushed through the consultation. He only looked at the MRI scan when we asked about it and couldn’t find the radiographers report so just scanned the MRI images and said it looked normal.

A few days later, he called to say that he’d read the report and there were foci of increased high FLAIR signal in the periventricular and deep cerebral white matter with linear periventricular high signal, non-specific in nature, possibly post-traumatic axonal damage or less likely, inflammatory demyelination. He didn’t think it was MS but said he was referring me for a visual evoked potential test to rule out Neuromyelitis Optica.

In the meantime I’ve had 2 more attacks of atypical optic neuritis, losing almost all my vision in my right eye in the last attack. It came back but I lose more of my field of vision permanently with every attack. I’m no longer allowed to drive as I can’t see anything in my lower right quadrant and my eyesight has deteriorated so badly that I’m legally blind in my right eye.

I’ve just had the results of the VEP test back and it shows significantly delayed P100 latencies on the right side (same side as the atypical optic neuritis) with the results being 118.75 (1st recording) and 120.00 (2nd recording). This is compared to results on the left being 99.37 (1st) and 103.13 (2nd) if that means anything to anyone. The Clinical Physiologist’s report said the results suggested a visual pathway abnormality on the right side, anterior to the optic chiasm and that this could be due to any cause, including demyelination in the correct clinical context.

My neurologist has asked me to come in for a follow up consultation, but waiting times for appointments are long. It’s likely to be a few weeks at least before I see him.

Can anyone make any sense of all this or has anyone experienced similar?

1 Like
2

That sounds very frightening. For what it’s worth, an MS attack caused the bottom right quadrant of vision in both my eyes to drop out completely for a while but my vision did recover more of less completely. I mention this only to give you heart that eye things can get better even when they have looked very bad. I do hope that things improve for you.

1 Like
3

Hi there. I don’t understand the various medical terms but i was diagnosed after an episode of optic neuritis leading to loss of pretty much all vision in my right eye. The vision did return but it took weeks ( can’t remember for sure but possibly a couple of months) for full recovery.

1 Like
4

Thanks Hank_Dogs, my 1st ON attack was nearly 2 years ago and my vision never fully returned, same with subsequent attacks basically it’s deteriorated further after each attack so the Neuroopthalmologist has said it’s permanent. Were you diagnosed on ON alone or did you have other positive tests?

5

The Optic Neuritis was followed fairly quickly by an MRI which revealed ‘quite a few lesions’ ( I’ve never asked how many). There was then a frustrating wait to see a neurologist to get the formal diagnosis

6

Hi @ojs2802 ,

I have had a very similar experience to you. I had ON last July and the vision just gradually deteriorated until I have basically none at all in my right eye now. Ive been told by the Neuro Ophthalmologist that it will never return due to the damage to the optic nerve. I had a few lesions showing on my brain MRI, none in my spine, had a clear LP and have had a VEP test but no results from it as yet. I have been told to get on with my life as normal and wait and see if any other symptoms appear. I havent seen my neurologist since last August so as hard as it is I’m trying to get on with life!
Its certainly frustrating especially when no cause has been found so theres no guarantee it doesn’t happen my other eye!

All the very best,
Laura

1 Like
7

Please let me know how you get on with your VEP results Laura, it sounds like our experience is eerily similar. Wishing you all the very best x