This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Hi Joan,

Is it possible to get EGCG without getting caffeine along with it?

I have hesitated to drink green tea for that reason (because caffeine is a vasoconstrictor), but I can see I really should be taking EGCG. One of my brain MRI's said that I have hypoperfusion.

Any tips on a good source of decaffinated EGCG is appreciated. I have floundered around with only very occasionally drinking a cup of green tea. Oh, and I can't swallow large pills (anything larger than an asprin or one of those tiny vitamin D capsules), so that is limiting too...

thanks,

Mary Ann

Color vision defect type and spatial vision in the optic neuritis treatment trial.

M E Schneck and G Haegerstrom-Portnoy

Abstract

PURPOSE: To describe the types of color vision defects present in the acute phase of the disease and 6 months into recovery in the 438 participants of the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial.

METHODS: Patients meeting strict eligibility criteria were seen within 8 days of the onset of symptoms and then at regular follow-up visits. At the first and 6-month visits (and subsequent annual visits), spatial vision (acuity, contrast sensitivity), visual fields, and color vision were measured. Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue tests were scored by a variant of the method of quadrant analysis described by Smith et al (Am J Ophthalmol. 1985; 100:176-182).

RESULTS: Most persons show mixed red-green (RG) and blue-yellow (BY) color defects (one type predominating, accompanied by a lesser defect of the other type). BY defects tend to be slightly more common in the acute phase of the disease, with slightly more RG defects at 6 months. Persons may shift defect type over time. Defect type was not related to any of the spatial vision measures at either test time or to treatment group; however, severity of color defect was related to both spatial vision measures and treatment group.

CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to common clinical wisdom, optic neuritis is not characterized by selective RG defects. Color defect type cannot be used for differential diagnosis of optic neuritis.