Evolving Standard of Care

  • SD OCT often reveals myriad findings that are invisible to ophthalmoscopy (For example, see Case #2 – Plaquenil Induced Retinal Toxicity, Case #4 — Retinoschisis, Case #6 – Vitreomacular Traction).
  • In a similar fashion, dental X-rays often reveal cavities and other disorders that are invisible to a dentist’s inspection of the teeth and surrounding structures.
  • Unlike X-rays, OCT scans are safe and noninvasive.
  • However, OCT scans are new, not yet fully understood by patients, and are underappreciated by many clinicians without access to an OCT.
  • Patients readily accept X-rays as a component of the standard dental exam. Practicing dentistry without X-rays is below the standard of care.
  • Will patients soon accept eye scans (which have no risk of radiation) as the standard of ophthalmic care?
  • This week’s series of cases exemplifies how SD OCTs can provide additional information in less than a minute, impacting case management. Each ot these patients has a disorder which is often invisible to ophthalmoscopy.