The TB tests like X-ray chest and Mantoux are done as a part of atypical optic neuritis work up, but I concede that it was the likes of NMO and MOG optic neuritis which we were treating as TB optic neuritis ( when the mantoux was positive or the chest imaging showed fibrosis indicative of past TB infection)some years back.
Now it’s either MSON/NMO/MOG/Double negative . It’s been a while I diagnosed a case of TB ON
But we continue to work them for TB , if any of the tests hint towards TB , take the ID specialists opinion to give an ATT cover as immunosuppressives/steroid can wreak havoc in TB any where in the body, neuritis or no neuritis .
Dr Shikha Bassi
Sankara Nethralaya
Chennai
India
Original Message:
Sent: 8/18/2025 7:24:00 AM
From: Scott Forman
Subject: TB testing in optic neuritis
At a meeting of Controversies in Ophthalmology in April of this year in Spain, Andy Lee and Dan Milea presented cases of optic neuritis and asked if TB testing is done. They both stated that in India, yes, in US and Paris, no.
I rest my case. Apologies accepted.
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Scott Forman, MD
Senior Fellow North American Neuro-ophthalmology Society
Adult and Pediatric Neuro-ophthalmology
Comprehensive Ophthalmology
Functional Medicine