Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
Optical coherence tomography, commonly called an OCT scan, is an advanced imaging test used to examine the retina in remarkable detail. It allows your eye doctor to view the individual layers of the retina and identify changes that may not be visible during a standard eye examination.
OCT imaging is especially important for diagnosing and monitoring retinal diseases, including macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema. The test is fast, non-invasive, and does not expose the eye to radiation.
What Is an OCT Eye Test?
An OCT scan uses light waves to create high-resolution, cross-sectional images of the retina—the light-sensitive tissue located at the back of the eye. The images are similar to an optical “slice” through the retina, allowing your doctor to evaluate its thickness, structure, and individual layers.
OCT imaging can help detect swelling, fluid accumulation, thinning, or other structural changes in the retina. Because the scan provides detailed and repeatable measurements, it is also valuable for tracking how an eye condition changes over time.
What Conditions Can OCT Detect?
Optical coherence tomography is commonly used to diagnose and monitor conditions affecting the retina and macula, including:
- Age-related macular degeneration
- Diabetic macular edema
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Macular holes
- Macular pucker
- Retinal swelling or fluid accumulation
- Retinal vein occlusion
- Certain conditions affecting the optic nerve
The OCT findings are interpreted together with your symptoms, medical history, and comprehensive eye examination.
What Happens During an OCT Scan?
During the test, you will sit in front of the OCT machine and place your chin and forehead against a support. You will be asked to look at a target while the device scans the back of your eye.
Nothing touches the surface of the eye, and the scan typically takes only a few minutes. The machine then produces detailed images that your eye doctor can review.
Depending on the reason for your visit, your pupils may be dilated as part of the overall eye examination, but dilation is not always required for OCT imaging.
Is an OCT Scan Painful?
No. An OCT scan is:
- Non-invasive
- Painless
- Fast
- Safe
- Free of radiation
The test uses light to capture images and does not require injections or direct contact with the eye.
Why Might OCT Be Performed at Every Visit?
Some retinal conditions can change between appointments, even before a patient notices a difference in vision. Repeating the OCT scan allows your retina specialist to compare current images with earlier scans and look for subtle changes.
Depending on your condition, OCT imaging may be performed at every visit. These scans can help your doctor:
- Monitor retinal swelling or fluid
- Evaluate whether a condition is stable
- Measure changes in retinal thickness
- Assess the response to treatment
- Determine whether additional treatment may be needed
OCT Testing for Macular Degeneration
OCT plays an important role in evaluating age-related macular degeneration. It can show fluid or other changes within or beneath the retina that may be associated with wet macular degeneration.
For patients receiving treatment, repeated OCT scans help the retina specialist monitor the condition and determine how the retina is responding.
OCT Testing for Diabetic Macular Edema
Diabetes can damage retinal blood vessels and cause fluid to collect in the macula, the central area of the retina responsible for detailed vision. This condition is known as diabetic macular edema.
OCT imaging helps measure retinal swelling and allows the doctor to monitor changes over time. Early diagnosis and continued monitoring are important because diabetic retinal disease may progress before significant symptoms develop.
Schedule an OCT Eye Test in Las Vegas
If you have been diagnosed with a retinal condition or are experiencing changes in your vision, detailed retinal imaging may be recommended. The retina specialists at Meadows Eye Physicians & Surgeons use OCT imaging to help diagnose, monitor, and manage a wide range of retinal diseases.
Call (702) 358-0472 to schedule an eye examination.
Seek prompt medical attention for sudden flashes, a rapid increase in floaters, a dark curtain or shadow in your vision, or sudden vision loss.