NEI Research News

A National Eye Institute-supported clinical trial reported today that surgery for a potentially blinding condition was ineffective and may be harmful to a person’s vision.

Over half of all people with first-time optic neuritis, a vision-impairing inflammation of the optic nerve, will eventually develop multiple sclerosis (MS).

Although commonly used, oral corticosteroids alone are ineffective in treating optic neuritis, a debilitating inflammation of the optic nerve, and actually increase a person’s risk for future attacks.

Results from two years of patient followup in a randomized clinical trial suggest that argon laser therapy may be a safe and effective alternative to eyedrops as a first treatment for patients with newly diagnosed open-angle glaucoma.