Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)

  

Optical Coherence Tomography

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive imaging method that uses reflected light to create pictures of the back of your eye. It can be used to diagnose and manage diseases like diabetes-related retinopathy and glaucoma.

What is Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)?

Optical Coherence Tomography, or OCT, is an imaging method used to generate an image of the back part of the eye, called the retina. This non-invasive method produces an image by measuring the amount of low-intensity red light that is reflected in the retina and optic nerve. Optical Coherence Tomography can measure the thickness of the retina and optic nerve.

Healthcare providers in vascular and cardiac medicine use Optical Coherence Tomography for cardiac catheterization to produce images of blood vessels. Healthcare providers in the fields of dentistry, gastroenterology, pulmonology, dermatology, and oncology also frequently use OCT imaging.

What is Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography?

Traditional angiography, also known as arteriography, refers to the examination of the inside of blood vessels using X-rays. Typically, your healthcare provider injects a radiopaque dye that appears on X-rays. Eye care professionals also use a special type of angiography to examine the blood vessels of the retina. The dye used fluoresces when exposed to blue light.

Eye care professionals can also use Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography to visualize the interior of blood vessels in the eye. Unlike traditional angiography, this test is completely non-invasive, and there is no need to inject dye.

When is Optical Coherence Tomography performed?

Your eye care professional may suggest Optical Coherence Tomography if they suspect certain conditions during your eye examination or if you already have a condition they are helping you manage.

Healthcare providers use OCT to diagnose and monitor various eye conditions, including:

• Glaucoma: If you have glaucoma, fluid and pressure build up in the eye and damage the optic nerve.
• Age-related macular degeneration: People may experience central vision loss with this condition. It is a progressive disease related to aging, but fortunately, treatments are available for some forms.
• Diabetic retinopathy: Diabetes damages the small blood vessels in the eye and causes vision loss. Fluid can leak from your eye, causing blurry vision. In severe forms, the entire retina can detach from the back of the eye, and glaucoma can develop. People can become completely blind, but with treatment, diabetic retinopathy can be controlled.
• Cystoid macular edema: Macular edema refers to inflammation of the macula with fluid. Your macula is the part of your retina that has the highest concentration of light-sensitive cells.
• Macular puckers: Scar tissue can grow on the surface of the retina and cause distorted vision. Surgery can sometimes help.
• Macular holes: A macular hole occurs when your retina separates, forming a hole in your macula. This can affect your vision, but it can be repaired with surgery.
• Cone and rod dystrophies: These conditions affect the light-sensitive cells in the eyes and color perception. As the condition worsens, vision loss can occur.
• Choroidal and retinal tumors: These cancers occur in the retina and choroid, a vascular layer located between the retina and sclera.

When would Optical Coherence Tomography be necessary?

Your optometrist or ophthalmologist may recommend undergoing Optical Coherence Tomography if you are above a certain age and/or are at risk of developing certain eye diseases. Some healthcare providers may suggest including OCT scans regularly in your eye examination program so they can monitor the thickness of your retinal layers.

Your healthcare provider is likely to recommend Optical Coherence Tomography if you are receiving treatment for certain eye conditions. Both optometrists and ophthalmologists perform the procedure.