The OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) allows us to a more comprehensive view of the retina in the back of your eyes. If you think of your retina as similar to an onion, with many layers, the OCT allows us to see each layer in detail, so that we can inspect the inner structures of your eyes in a minimally invasive manner.
One example is shown below: These two images (one a normal photo and the other an OCT scan) are taken from the same eye. On surface level, there does not appear to be any problems, however a cross-sectional image of the retina shows parts of the retina separating from its base layers.
Hence, the OCT is a very useful and vital scan that reveals information that is not available to the naked eye. It is used to monitor and detect conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and other retinal conditions.
Who do we recommend the scan for?
Typically for those 45 years of age and above. We recommend taking at least a baseline result and then every two years thereafter to monitor any changes. This is also especially useful for those with a family history of age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma.