New technology offers novel objective method for diagnosis, treatment of ocular disorders

SALT LAKE CITY — The Diopsys NOVA-TR is a new diagnostic test that evaluates the visual pathway function to assist in the diagnosis and management of a number of ocular conditions in both the anterior and posterior segment, according to a presenter here at Optometry's Meeting.

Craig Thomas, OD, told attendees at a Diopsys-sponsored seminar that he turns to the Diopsys NOVA-TR (neuro optic vision assessment) in cases where visual field or OCT test results are unusual, but fail to point to a definitive diagnosis.

"VEP [visual evoked potential] testing is an objective electrical signal of visual pathway function," Dr. Thomas said. "It measures the strength and speed."

"It splits the responses into two traces, where you get a high contrast and a low contrast with one single trace," he continued. "The low contrast is more specific for people getting glaucoma and, for AMD, the high contrast occurs first. You can get some kind of diagnostic differential this way."

According to company literature, the test is also useful in patients with amblyopia, convergence insufficiency, traumatic brain injury, stroke, optic nerve disease and multiple sclerosis.

A technician can administer the test, which takes between 4 and 6 minutes, according to the company. The reports are read in-office by the clinician.

Dr. Thomas has performed about 100 tests with the Diopsys NOVA. "I usually bill 368.40, visual defect," he said. "If patients actually have glaucoma, I bill 377.14, glaucomatous optic atrophy."

He said he has used this technology to detect problems in 10 people with multiple sclerosis. "It's pretty common in MS," he said. "I now see one or two MS patients a month because I've done outreach."

Disclosure:

Dr. Thomas has no financial interest in any products mentioned in this article. He is a paid consultant for Diopsys.