Ophthalmology Expert Opines on Delayed Recognition of Autoimmune Disease Leading to Blindness

Case Overview

Questions to the Ophthalmology expert and their responses

Do you routinely treat patients similar to the one described in the case?

I routinely diagnose and treat patients with the specified disorder in a large academic medical center. My practice includes treating patients with optic neuritis, multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, and other optic neuropathies.

Have you ever had a patient develop the outcome described in the case?

I have seen several patients with severe vision loss due to optic neuritis that went on to develop MS or were subsequently found to have antibodies positive for neuromyelitis optica.

Do you believe this patient may have had a better outcome if the care rendered had been different?

It may be possible based on medical records that if an optic neuritis was diagnosed earlier with intravenous steroid treatment that the patient may have retained useful vision for a longer period of time. However, visual prognosis of NMO is very poor.

About the expert

This board-certified expert in Ophthalmology has extensive experience as a Vitreoretinal Surgeon and has treated over 300 detachments. He obtained his MD from New York University following a BS in Chemistry/Biology from Emory University. The expert completed an Internship in Surgery at New York University, a Residency in Ophthalmology at the University of Kentucky Medical Center, and a Fellowship in Vitreo-retinal at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. He is a member of numerous professional societies and has published extensively in peer-reviewed forums. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at a major university medical Center in Kentucky.