Optical Coherence Tomography

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a specialized way of scanning the retina that produces high-resolution computerized optical images of the retina. The images are magnified to such a degree that it is similar to looking at slices of the retina under a microscope. The test is painless and does not require bright lights or even dilated pupils in many patients. Patients who are being evaluated for conditions affecting the central portion of the retina, called the macula, will often benefit from the additional information provided by OCT. Examples of conditions in which OCT can be helpful include macular hole, macular pucker, macular degeneration, and diabetic macular edema. OCT can also be used to assess the efficacy of anti-VEGF treatments on retinal thickness¹.