The Belfast Eye and Multiple Sclerosis (BEAMS) study was set up to explore the feasibility and utility of cutting-edge, high-resolution eye imaging in MS. Eye imaging was carried out on MS participants using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Adaptive Optics. We investigated if we could identify specific changes in the eyes of people with MS that could inform about the disease course.
So far we have uncovered novel relationships between retinal changes and MS that were previously undetected. These insights could pave the way for a non-invasive, multimodal eye imaging and functional testing protocol – helping us better understand MS progression and opening new opportunities for treatment development.
We will now invite original BEAMS participants back for a follow-up study to track how these retinal changes evolve over time and explore their relationships with disease progression. We hope to explore the potential of using eye imaging, which is quick with minimal discomfort, to support or even replace traditional clinical tests used for monitoring MS. We want to know if images of the back of the eye can provide a window to changes in the brain in MS.
Further information:
- A PDF of our recent Ophthalmology Journal publication can be downloaded from here.
- Ophthalmology Journal podcast – Prof Imre Lengyel discusses the above publication.
We are so grateful to our trial participants. Thank you!
