Correlation Between Disease Duration and Ocular Manifestations in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Hospital-Based Study in Jordan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64252/7m0bq640Keywords:
Multiple Sclerosis; Neuro-ophthalmology; Optic Neuritis; Visual Disturbances; Disease Duration; Ocular Manifestations; JordanAbstract
Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, frequently associated with neuro-ophthalmic involvement. Visual disturbances such as optic neuritis, diplopia, blurred vision, and nystagmus often represent early manifestations and may reflect disease progression. However, data on the relationship between disease duration and ocular involvement in Middle Eastern populations remain limited.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between disease duration and ocular manifestations among MS patients in Jordan, and to identify demographic and clinical predictors of ocular involvement.
Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on MS patients attending a neurology clinic in Jordan. Demographic and clinical data, including MS subtype, disease duration, ocular manifestations, and symptom characteristics, were extracted. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Mann–Whitney U tests, Spearman correlation, and binary logistic regression were applied.
Results: Among the studied cohort, ocular manifestations were observed in approximately one-third of patients. Optic neuritis was the most common presentation, followed by diplopia and nystagmus. Patients with ocular involvement had significantly longer disease duration compared to those without (median 5 years vs 3 years, p < 0.001). Logistic regression confirmed disease duration (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01–1.11, p = 0.032) and female sex (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.21–3.01, p = 0.006) as independent predictors.
Conclusion: Ocular manifestations are a prevalent and clinically significant feature of MS in Jordanian patients. Longer disease duration and female sex increase the likelihood of ocular involvement. These findings highlight the importance of routine neuro-ophthalmic evaluation and early intervention in long-standing MS, while also addressing a regional gap in the literature.
