World Sight Day 2022
October 13, 2022
Sight is one of our five senses, and it is hard to imagine what it would be like if we lost our vision. Yet this is what happens to patients with optic neuritis (ON), the most common manifestation of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and NMO spectrum disorders (NMOSD) in adults, as well as of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disorders (MOGAD).
NMOSD and MOGAD are rare inflammatory diseases of the brain and spinal cord
NMOSD and MOGAD manifest as flare-ups characterized by the sudden onset of various symptoms such as:
- ON, acute transverse myelitis, nausea, vomiting, and hiccups persisting for more than 48 hours in the case of NMOSD.
- ON, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), transverse myelitis, encephalopathy with epileptic seizures, brain stem disorders with balance disorders, speech disorders, swallowing disorders, and double vision in the case of MOGAD.
Flare-ups can be severe, but, apart from in exceptional cases, these diseases do not evolve between episodes. Treatment of the flare-ups usually results in good recovery, although disabilities persist in rare cases. However, to be properly treated, flare-ups must be recognized as being symptoms of NMOSD and MOGAD.
Due to the lack of knowledge of these rare diseases and their variable symptoms, inaccurate or delayed diagnosis is unfortunately common, and can lead to severe irreversible disability, such as blindness.
Support of Santé Active Edition – Synergy Pharm
On this World Sight Day, Santé Active Edition – Synergy Pharm wishes to express its support to NMO associations around the world as well as to all patients with NMOSD, MOGAD, or other rare inflammatory diseases of the brain and spinal cord.
The launch of this website has received very positive feedback from patients: “very well done with a lot of easy to access information “, “Very very well explained, clear with words understandable by all”.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Souad Mazari, founder of the NMO France association, for entrusting our medical writing team with the writing of the content for the website of this patient association.
We hope that this website will also increase the visibility of the association and help raise awareness and knowledge of these rare diseases, allowing them to be better diagnosed in the future so that the patients affected have fewer sequelae.
Find more information on these pathologies, patient testimonials, and other information such as the differences between NMOSD and multiple sclerosis on the French “NMO France” association’s website, as well as from NORD, Orphanet, and other international websites listed here: https://www.nmo-france.org/ressources/.