Multiple Sclerosis

Why does MS develop?
How does MS manifest itself?
How is MS controlled?

Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system in which hardening of tissue occurs throughout the brain and/or spinal cord. Because the central nervous system is made up of nerve cells joined by nerve fibers, the electrical impulses originating in nerve cells must flow smoothly without interruption in order for the central nervous system to function optimally. A fatty substance (myelin) coats and protects nerve fibers to keep them functioning properly.

In MS, myelin becomes inflamed, swollen, and detached from the fibers. Eventually, the detached myelin is destroyed, but hard areas of scar tissue form over the fibers, blocking or delaying the nerve impulses to the brain. Given that complexity, it is understandable that MS affects different people in varying degrees. Studies have shown that the first subtle signs of MS often occur in the eyes.

Why does MS develop?

The causes of MS seem to point to several factors. Genetics help determine the likelihood of developing the disease. The disease strikes more women than men, particularly women in the northern United States. First-degree relatives of individuals with multiple sclerosis have a 20- to 40-fold increased risk of developing the disease. It has also been documented that exposure to a virus or bacteria can play a role in MS development, along with a person's own immune response. Medical professionals often conduct comprehensive tests such as CAT scans and MRI scans to diagnose and classify the particular pattern of MS and its symptoms.

How does MS manifest itself?

Many people with the early symptoms of MS don't associate those subtle signs with the disease. Symptoms may include localized tingling or numbness, hand or leg weakness, fatigue, dizziness, and loss of coordination and balance. The patient's eyes are often affected by pain and loss of vision because of optic neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve), nystagmus (uncontrolled eye movements), and diplopia (double vision).

Patients generally recover from optic neuritis.

Nystagmus may be mild and only occur when looking to one side, or it may be severe enough to impair vision. Some drugs and special prisms have been reported to be successful in treating the visual deficits caused by nystagmus.

Diplopia, or double vision, occurs when the pair of muscles that control a particular eye movement are not perfectly coordinated because of weakness in one or both muscles. Diplopia usually resolves on its own.

In some cases, eye care professionals, together with a primary physician, may suggest steroid treatment or special prisms to help with inflammation or general annoyance until the visual problems resolve. A person experiencing any of these symptoms, particularly those with a genetic history of MS, should see an eye care professional immediately.

How is MS controlled?

Although there are no cures to date for MS, progress has been made over the years to decrease its advancement and to stall its effects on various bodily functions. Each patient must talk thoroughly with medical professionals to determine the best treatment available for a particular MS stage.