Understanding Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): A Clearer View of Your Eye Health
Behind-the-Scenes Look at Your Eye!
Your eyes serve as windows into both the outside world and your general health. Direct and early diagnosis of eye conditions can make all the difference in saving your sight. One of the most advanced processes in the eye care industry is Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), a non-invasive test that gives you a live, ultra-high-resolution cross-sectional image of the retina in as little as a few seconds.
As opposed to standard imaging, OCT does not need dye, injections or radiation because it is a safe and painless way to keep your eyes healthy. Here’s how that cutting-edge technology works and why it’s critical for keeping your vision as sharp as possible.
What is Optical Coherence Tomography?
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging test that uses light waves to take high-resolution, cross-section pictures of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye. Think of it as an “optical ultrasound”; only light instead of sound is used to paint detailed images of your retinal layers.
Technology Behind OCT
The timing and magnitude of light waves reflected from different retinal tissues are measured by OCT. This enables ophthalmologists to map and measure retinal thickness with unprecedented precision, identifying the most minute deviations.
How It Compares to Other Scans
- Unlike MRI or CT scans, OCT does not expose patients to radiation. It’s also faster and easier for patients than fluorescein angiography, which involves injections of dye. There is, however, no pain involved with OCT; instead, the test is a quick scan that delivers critical data on your eye health.
Why is OCT Important?
Eye diseases should be diagnosed early because many conditions — such as glaucoma and macular degeneration — cause irreversible damage before signs or symptoms develop. OCT helps in two key ways:
Early Diagnosis Advantage
- A lot of retinal diseases are asymptomatic. OCT can also detect subtle changes, like loss of nerve fibres in the eye in glaucoma or fluid building up in macular degeneration, long before vision loss begins.
Assessing the Course of the Disease
- For patients who are diagnosed with an eye condition, OCT measurements are an accurate way to monitor how well their treatments are working. This can lead to a prompt adjustment to minimise more vision loss.
Conditions Diagnosed with OCT
OCT is an important tool for diagnosing and managing a number of serious eye diseases:
Glaucoma
- Glaucoma: Damage to the optic nerve, usually brought on by internal eye pressure. Retinal nerve fibre layer thinning is identified by OCT, allowing early intervention in order to retard the speed of decline.
ARMD: Age-Related Macular Degeneration
- AMD wrecks the macula, which damages central vision. OCT can detect an accumulation of fluid or abnormal blood vessel growth beneath the retina, helping to inform treatment.
Diabetic Retinopathy
- Diabetes may cause the retina’s blood vessels to leak. OCT detects early swelling or haemorrhages in time for treatment, which can prevent blindness.
What to Expect During the Test
An OCT scan is a fast and simple process conducted at medical centres:
- You will put your chin on a rest while you sit in front of the OCT machine.
- The machine scans your eye in a couple of minutes, without any contact or discomfort.
- Pupil dilation isn’t necessary in a lot of scenarios, which makes the process even more convenient.
Safety and Comfort
Even for young patients, OCT is completely pleasant and safe. There is no recovery period, so you can go about your usual activities right away.
When Should You Consider OCT?
You could benefit from an OCT if you:
✔ Have blurry vision, floaters or night vision issues
✔ Have diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of glaucoma/AMD.
✔ Are age 50 or greater with no routine eye exam in the last 2 years
Even if your vision appears normal, early detection via OCT can catch future problems.
Conclusion
OCT is a non-invasive and painless tool that will offer you the ultimate knowledge of your “eye health”. At Chase Lodge Hospital we provide OCT to help detect and monitor diseases before they become a risk to your eyesight.
Don’t wait for symptoms; early detection saves vision. Schedule an OCT scan with our experts and take control of your eye health today.
