Optical Coherence
Tomography
The doctors at Clarin Eye Care in Palmetto Bay and Coral Gables Eye Care utilize the latest in technology to provide expert eye health and vision care for patients. Your doctor may use optical coherence tomography (OCT) during your comprehensive eye exam to examine your retina.
What is Optical Coherence Tomography?
Optical coherence tomography is a non-invasive scanning device used to provide your doctor with 3D, color-coded, cross-sectional images of the retina. The scan enables your doctor to detect early signs of eye diseases, some of which have no obvious symptoms in the early stages.
How is the OCT Scan Used?
OCT scans are beneficial for the management, diagnosis, or treatment of a variety of ocular conditions. The images in the scan are useful for your doctor to explain a problem you may be experiencing because the images are 3D and can be clearly seen.
Some of the ocular conditions an OCT scan can help your doctor diagnose include the following:
- Age-related macular degeneration
- Diabetic eye disease
- Glaucoma
- Macular hole
- Macular pucker
- Macular edema
- Neovascularization
- Retinal bleeding
What Can I Expect During an OCT Scan?
The doctor may use special drops to dilate your eyes before this test is conducted because it makes it easier to examine the retina.
You will be asked to sit in front of the OCT device so that the eye scan can be completed. You will rest your head on a support in front of the device, and then the scan of your eyes is completed without anything touching your eye at any time. The scan is completely painless and takes about five to ten minutes to complete.
The digital images in your OCT scan will be stored electronically in your patient records and will provide your doctor with historical data to detect and measure any changes to your retina during your eye exams.