Oklahoma Eye Institute uses the latest in optical coherence technology to help diagnose and treat retinal conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration.
How It Works
The OCT is similar to a ultrasound except that it uses reflect light instead of sound. Light is reflected off of the back of the eye (retina), and an extremely high resolution image is obtained. OCT is more detailed than a MRI and only takes a few minutes to perform. The newest OCT, the spectral domain, can obtain resolution up to 10 micrometers. Before taking the OCT picture, the doctor may or may not need to dilate the eye. The patient sits with their head and chin on a rest to help with stability. The technician will direct the patient where to look and the picture is taken in seconds.
When Is The OCT Used?
If you have a retinal condition called macular degeneration, the OCT is the gold standard of clinical care. Because the OCT gives such high resolution detail, the doctor can identify subtle changes in the disease which can significantly help with the long-term prognosis. Glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, macular edema, and plaqunil maculopathy are other conditions in which the OCT is important for diagnosis and monitoring progression.
Since there are multiple generations and brands of OCT it can be confusing to know if your eye care professional has the best OCT for you. If you have the above listed conditions, OEI recommends that you see an eye care professional with a spectral domain OCT. Each office at OEI uses the spectral domain Cirrus OCT made by Zeiss.
