Non-invasive Eye Diagnosis with Optical Coherence Tomography

What is Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)?

Optical coherence tomography (OCT), or ocular coherence tomography, is a non-invasive diagnostic test that utilizes light waves to capture cross-sectional images of the retina. This allows ophthalmologists to view the distinctive layers of the retina and optic nerve fibre, which further enables them to map and measure the thickness of the retina and optic nerve fibre and record the changes over time, thus helping with the diagnosis of the various eye conditions.

Here are the several types of optical coherence tomography, including time-domain (TD-OCT), spectral-domain (SD-OCT), swept-source (SS-OCT), and posterior and anterior pole OCT.

The use of OCT has also been adopted by surgeons of other departments, including cardiology, neurology, and oncology, to examine other tissues and has offered a new imaging technique called optical coherence tomography angiography.

How is Optical Coherence Tomography operated?

This procedure does not require any pre-surgical preparations, but the surgeon may put eye drops in the patient’s eye before the surgery. Followed by the placement of the chin on the support attached to the optical coherence tomography machine. The doctor instructs them to look at the green dot at the center while the red line appears as the scanning begins, covering one eye at a time.

The complete process is done without touching the eyes, and the patient won’t even feel anything in the span of 2-3 minutes of scanning.

Advantages of Optical Coherence Tomography

• Non-contact.
• Non-invasive.
• Shorter scanning time.
• Minimum cooperation is required from the patient.
• Easy to operate the procedure.
• Provides ultra-high 3D images with microscopic histological details.
• Allows real-time observation of small structures and lesions in blood vessels.

Clinical Indications for Optical Coherence Tomography

• Any age-related eye problems.
• Glaucoma.
• Optic atrophy.
• Macular degeneration.
• Posterior vitreous detachment.
• Retinal detachment.
• Diabetes-related retinopathy.
• Diabetes-related macular oedema.
• Bull’s eye maculopathy.

Our goal is to preserve the patient’s quality of life through intricate, minimally invasive, and non-invasive methods and preserve the patient’s well-being. Reach out to our ophthalmologists today for a free consultation and a comprehensive diagnosis.