Eye Health technology
Optical Coherence Tomography
Eye Health technology
Optical Coherence Tomography
At Ascension Optical, our expert doctors use the latest in diagnostic technology to accurately diagnose eye diseases and conditions. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a critical device for the early diagnosis of several serious eye diseases and conditions.
OCT is a non-invasive scan of the retina which provides your doctor with detailed, 3D, color-coded, and cross-sectional images of the macula, retina, and optic nerve. These images enable your doctor to detect signs of eye disease in the early stages, some of which have no obvious symptoms.
How are optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans used?
If you are at risk of developing an eye disease or have other factors in your health history, your eye doctor may recommend an OCT scan as part of your comprehensive eye exam. If you have already been diagnosed with an eye disease, an OCT scan will provide your doctor with valuable information to monitor your treatment.
If your doctor recommends you for the OCT scan, the scan can be used to diagnose, manage, or treat many different eye diseases and conditions, including the following:
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Age-related macular degeneration
- Macular edema
- Glaucoma
- Drusen
- Retinal detachment
- Retinal occlusions or bleeding
- Macular hole
- Neovascularization
What to expect when getting an OCT scan
During the scan, you will be asked to sit in front of the device with your chin resting on a support. While looking into the device at a fixed target, each one of your eyes will be scanned. The scan will use light waves to create the images.
During the scan, you may see a red line moving across your vision, which is the laser scanning your eye. The test is non-invasive and completely painless. Nothing touches your eye at any time. After the scanning is complete, your doctor can review the scan results with you during your eye exam.