LETTER RE: The application of optical coherence tomography in neurologic diseases
JagannadhaAvasarala, MD, Greenville Health System
Published December 18, 2015
I read with great interest the recent article on optical coherence tomography (OCT) by Maldonado et al., which summarizes the current state of
OCT technology and how it can aid neurologists as they deal with
monitoring retinal changes as applied to neurologic diseases.1
Since its inception in 1991 and despite its excellent utility,
rapidity, and reproducibility in imaging the retina in a non-invasive
manner, the use of OCT - even among specialists who have trained in neuroimmunology - remains depressingly low. While this may reflect a lack of
understanding and enthusiasm among 'MS specialists' (some of whom do not
have fellowship training yet get to run the show at big and small
University programs), it nonetheless renders the
residents who are training under these leaders as impotent and unprepared
for the excellent technological advances that OCT has to offer. Technology
has forged ahead since the early 1990s and neurology as a branch of
medicine has not even stirred from its deep slumber.
Over the years, neurologists have ceded massive terrain to other
services and OCT will likely disappear into that
black hole. The technology of OCT is driven by software engineers and
those interested in retinal segmentation protocols while neurologists as a
group wait and watch. Neurologists do not even seem to know how to benefit from
these wonderful gains someone else has made available to us.
Disclosures: The author reports no disclosures.
Reference:
1. Maldonado RS, Mettu P, El-Dairi M, and Bhatti MT. The application of optical coherence tomography in neurologic diseases. Neurol Clin Pract 2015;5:460-469.
I read with great interest the recent article on optical coherence tomography (OCT) by Maldonado et al., which summarizes the current state of OCT technology and how it can aid neurologists as they deal with monitoring retinal changes as applied to neurologic diseases.1
Since its inception in 1991 and despite its excellent utility, rapidity, and reproducibility in imaging the retina in a non-invasive manner, the use of OCT - even among specialists who have trained in neuroimmunology - remains depressingly low. While this may reflect a lack of understanding and enthusiasm among 'MS specialists' (some of whom do not have fellowship training yet get to run the show at big and small University programs), it nonetheless renders the residents who are training under these leaders as impotent and unprepared for the excellent technological advances that OCT has to offer. Technology has forged ahead since the early 1990s and neurology as a branch of medicine has not even stirred from its deep slumber.
Over the years, neurologists have ceded massive terrain to other services and OCT will likely disappear into that black hole. The technology of OCT is driven by software engineers and those interested in retinal segmentation protocols while neurologists as a group wait and watch. Neurologists do not even seem to know how to benefit from these wonderful gains someone else has made available to us.
Disclosures: The author reports no disclosures.
Reference:
1. Maldonado RS, Mettu P, El-Dairi M, and Bhatti MT. The application of optical coherence tomography in neurologic diseases. Neurol Clin Pract 2015;5:460-469.