Involuntary oscillations of the eyes (nystagmus) impairs vision so that affected patients, who have neurological disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) , cannot read or watch TV. Two medicines have been reported to suppress nystagmus and improve vision in such patients: gabapentin and memantine. The investigators set out to test which of these two drug was more effective by carrying out a double-blind cross-over study. In this way, we could determine which drug worked best in each patient.
The study entails careful measurements of visual acuity and precise measurements of eye movements, using a contact lens device (magnetic search coil method). In this way, it is possible to make objective and reliable measurements of the effect of each drug, which are unbiased by the investigator or the patient.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
10
increasing to 1200 mg/day
increasing to 40 mg/day
Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 10701 East Boulevard
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Change in logMAR Visual Acuity of Each Eye, Measured During Far or Near Viewing
Time frame: After 2 weeks of therapy, for both drugs
Percent Change in Median Eye Speed
Median eye speed during attempted visual fixation by each eye
Time frame: After 2 weeks of therapy, for both drugs
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.