Blog /

What is optical coherence tomography scan?

What is optical coherence tomography scan?

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging test. OCT uses light waves to take cross-section pictures of your retina. With OCT, your ophthalmologist can see each of the retina’s distinctive layers. This allows your ophthalmologist to map and measure their thickness.

Does optical coherence tomography work?

How Does OCT Work? OCT works similarly to an ultrasound. It provides real-time images of your eye’s internal structures like an ultrasound, but OCT uses light waves instead of sound waves. These light waves illuminate and scan your retina, giving your optometrist a detailed view.

Is optical coherence tomography necessary?

Do I need an OCT scan? The routine sight test is good at detecting signs of eye disease. However, it can sometimes be difficult for your optometrist to decide whether the back of your eye is normal or if there is an abnormality that needs treatment.

What can an OCT detect?

With an OCT, doctors are able to see a cross section or 3D image of the retina and detect the early onset of a variety of eye conditions and eye diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy (the top three diseases known to cause blindness).

What can eye scan detect?

For 2020: Year of the Eye, here are 20 surprising conditions your eye doctor may detect during a comprehensive eye exam:

  • Aneurysm. An aneurysm is a bubble in the wall of a blood vessel.
  • Brain tumor.
  • Cancers of blood, tissue or skin.
  • Diabetes.
  • Giant cell arteritis.
  • Heart disease.
  • High blood pressure.
  • High cholesterol.

Is optical coherence tomography radiation?

Optical Coherence Tomography is a noninvasive imaging technology used to obtain high resolution cross-sectional images of the retina. No radiation or X-rays are used in this test, an OCT scan does not hurt and it is not uncomfortable.

Can you drive after an OCT scan?

Topcon Maestro2 OCT The camera does not flash and we can often take good quality images from the centre of your eye without using eye drops, so you can drive back home after the examination.

Does optical coherence tomography use radiation?

Optical Coherence Tomography is a noninvasive imaging technology used to obtain high resolution cross-sectional images of the retina. OCT uses rays of light to measure retinal thickness. No radiation or X-rays are used in this test, an OCT scan does not hurt and it is not uncomfortable.

Can an OCT scan detect optic neuritis?

For atypical cases of optic neuritis, blood may also be tested for MOG antibodies. Optical coherence tomography (OCT). This test measures the thickness of the eye’s retinal nerve fiber layer, which is often thinner from optic neuritis.

What is an OCT scan NHS?

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is an imaging technique that uses light waves to capture a 3D image of the back of the eye, down to the cellular level.

What diseases can be seen in the eye?

Common Eye Disorders and Diseases

  • Refractive Errors.
  • Age-Related Macular Degeneration.
  • Cataract.
  • Diabetic Retinopathy.
  • Glaucoma.
  • Amblyopia.
  • Strabismus.

How often should you have an OCT scan?

Even if your vision and eye health are perfectly fine, we still recommend an OCT scan with every eye test. It’s really useful for your optician to have a baseline image on file, so they can monitor any changes over time.