Reversible reduction in brain myelin content upon marathon running, 2025, Ramos-Cabrer et al.

[Utsikt]

Googling, it seems that light sensitivity is common in MS. It is thought that demyelination affects the function of the optic nerve, making the signals go haywire. I wonder if light sensitivity in ME/CFS is due to a more diffuse degradation of the myelin sheath?

Same thing with MS and sound sensitivity. There can be hyperacusis, but also pain in response to sound.

N = 1, but I very recently saw an ophthalmologist and I’ve had severe light sensitivity for a while.

I’m pretty certain that I did an OCT amongst many other scans that came back completely fine, and according to Specsavers, an OCT can detect the kind of changes that occur due to MS.

Presumably that means that MS-like changes to the optic nerve or eye in general are not the causes of my light sensitivity.

https://www.specsavers.co.uk/eye-health/ms-eye-symptoms

 

[Hutan]

Yes, but this study seems to suggest that there is a different sort of damage, that requires a specific sort of scanning.

OCT (optical coherence tomography) is a very useful tool in detecting signs of optic neuritis, a common early symptom in MS patients. This is because it allows the optometrist to get a really good look at the health of the optic nerve, as well as the thickness of the retinal layers.

The retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness is a good indicator of optic neuritis, and your optometrist will be looking for a thinning of this layer which shows a loss of nerve fibres. RNFL thickness can also be useful to measure for a range of neurological conditions, including MS, with studies showing that MS patients tend to have a thinner RNFL compared with healthy subjects.4 Just ask your optician about adding an OCT scan to your normal eye test.

I don't think we are thinking about an actual loss of nerve fibres with this idea of a temporary reduction in myelin lipids. So, I don't think the optical coherence tomography would pick that up.

 

[Utsikt]

Yes, but this study seems to suggest that there is a different sort of damage, that requires a specific sort of scanning.

I don't think we are thinking about an actual loss of nerve fibres with this idea of a temporary reduction in myelin lipids. So, I don't think the optical coherence tomography would pick that up.

Oooh, I see now that you mentioned different types of damage. Thanks!