Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!
OCT or optical fundus coherence tomography is one of the most modern diagnostic methods that use optical scanning. The analysis of the light reflectance from individual layers of the retina makes it possible to detect the subretinal membrane very early and monitor the treatment.
Optical coherence tomography of the eye fundus-OCT- is a necessary examination in the diagnosis of retinal diseases (especially important in the diagnosis of lesions within the eye fundus, the so-called macula). OCT is a non-invasive test that in many cases can replace fluorescein angiography, which requires intravenous injection of contrast (fluorescein).
How does OCT work?
OCT enables obtaining tissue sections in a non-contact and non-invasive manner. It shows the details of the eye structure very precisely - it shows the subsequent layers of the cross-section.
It looks a bit like an ultrasound examination - similarly to this method, the tested object is probed by a beam - here light. The backscattered light carries information about the location of places in the path of the light beam where the refractive index changes. By shifting the ray in the direction transverse to the direction of light propagation, we obtain another portion of information about the location of the scattering centers. Submitting the results of subsequent measurements gives an image of the cross-section of the tested object.
Who is OCT for?
The indications for the performance of OCT optical coherence tomography are:
- age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
- diabetic maculopathy
- macular edema of a different origin
- macular hole
- pre-macular fibrosis
- central serous retinopathy
Optical coherence tomography of the fundus OCT - course
Before the examination, the most commonly used eye drops dilate the pupil (for about 4 hours there is a deterioration of vision and photophobia). After instillation of the drug, time is needed for the pupil to dilate, usually about 15-30 minutes. The patient sits down in front of the camera with his head resting motionless on the support, and the examiner observing the fundus image on the screen registers a cross-section of its selected elements. The test can be repeated many times and performed in patients of all ages, as well as in pregnant women. The test usually takes from a few to several minutes.