Table 5. Disease modifying agent (DMA) treatment practices among physicians who treated at least one patient with optic neuritis per year and completed the corresponding survey questions^*.

	Ophthalmologists n=106				Neurologists n=101				P value**
Likelihood of using a DMA	All	Most	Some	None	All	Most	Some	None
With a normal MRI	1%	4%	12%	83%	0%	3%	6%	91%	P=0.05
With an abnormal MRI	14%	26%	42%	18%	11%	33%	41%	15%	P<0.01
	Choice of disease modifying agent
	Ophthalmologists n=11				Neurologists n=69
Interferon beta 1-a (Avonex)	0%	17%	41%	42%	7%	18%	56%	19%	p<0.01
Interferon beta 1-a (Rebif)	0%	9%	54%	37%	0%	12%	67%	21%	p<0.01
Interferon beta 1-b (Betaseron)	0%	9%	54%	37%	1%	11%	64%	24%	p<0.01
Glatiramir acetate (Copaxone)	0%	0%	50%	50%	0%	6%	66%	28%	p<0.01

^*Not all surveyed physicians completed all questions. This is why the denominator number of ophthalmologists and neurologists varies from question to question

^**p values refer to the significance of the difference between the numerical value of the responses of ophthalmologists and neurologists.