Larry E. Patterson, M.D.

Dear colleague,

As in previous years, the Diagnostic Instrument Buying Guide continues to lead ophthalmologists in their purchasing decisions for new equipment to help them improve the diagnosis, treatment and management of ocular disease. I believe you'll find this year's guide to be the best ever. It's chock full of information on the latest diagnostic equipment available for the anterior and posterior segments, and it's an even greater resource to learn about the latest trends in digital instrumentation.

In the article, "Digital Imaging Soars to the Next Level," you'll learn about the growing trend in the use of ophthalmic image management systems to store and analyze images from several different modalities on the same computer screen. The article discusses how physicians are using these integrated image networks to improve diagnosis and disease management, and patient record accessibility from any office location. You'll also learn about the challenges that lie ahead in standardizing data and image formats to facilitate the communication of data electronically.

With the evolution of spectral domain OCT (SDOCT), there's a new gold standard for imaging the anterior and posterior segments, as mentioned in "The Evolution of Spectral Domain OCT." In this article, you'll learn about the great advantages SDOCT has over time domain OCT, such as faster speed, higher-resolution images and better registration. You'll learn how SDOCT is revolutionizing early diagnosis and management of age-related macular degeneration, macular edema and other retinal pathologies.

Don't miss the article "Applying Anterior Segment Imaging in Practice." Physicians discuss the emerging technologies in digital anterior segment imaging and the research supporting their use. You'll learn about various instruments available to evaluate the anterior segment, such as SDOCT and Scheimpflug imaging, that enable you to examine the anterior and posterior surfaces of the cornea, obtain more accurate corneal thickness measurements and improve IOL implantation in cataract surgery. These instruments also improve the diagnosis and management of glaucoma and enhance screening, management and follow-up in refractive surgery.

Hands down, you'll find the 2008 Diagnostic Instrument Buying Guide to be an exciting, valuable resource for all of your equipment purchasing decisions and future investment planning. Enjoy!

Sincerely,

Larry E. Patterson, M.D.
Chief Medical Editor