Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)is a relatively and fundamentally new optical imaging technique developed for noninvasive cross-sectional imaging of the eye.
Breakthroughs in ophthalmic imaging make the retina's inner workings transparent to a degree unimaginable even a few years ago.
OCT is a non-invasive technology used for imaging the retina, the multi-layered sensory tissue lining the back of the eye. OCT, the first instrument to allow doctors to see cross-sectional images of the retina, is revolutionizing the early detection and treatment of eye conditions such as macular holes, pre-retinal membranes, macular swelling and even optic nerve damage.
Similar to CT scans of internal organs, OCT uses the optical backscattering of light to rapidly scan the eye and describe a pixel representation of the anatomic layers within the retina. Each of these ten important layers can be differentiated and their thickness can be measured.
For certain conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration and cystoid macular edema, the OCT procedure is able to reduce or eliminate the need for fluorescein angiography for some patients.
