OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY - OCT
Optical Coherence Tomography is available at our Whittlesey practice in Peterborough ONLY.
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Whittlesey
Optical Coherence Tomography is an advanced eye scan for people of all ages.
Similar to ultrasound, OCT uses light rather than sound waves to image the different layers that make up the structures at the front and the back of your eye.
Our Topcon OCT Triton Scanner captures both a photograph and a cross-sectional scan of the eye at the same time.
Common conditions identified through regular OCT screening include:
Age-related Macular Degeneration:
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the UK.
AMD causes slow deterioration of the central part of your retina (macular) which enables detailed vision. OCT can help identify and monitor the earliest signs of AMD.
Diabetes:
Over 4 million people are now diagnosed with diabetes in the UK. Experts claim that over half a million people currently suffer from undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. OCT scans help with early detection of diabetic retinopathy, leading to early referral & management which improves the success rate of treatment.
Glaucoma:
Glaucoma is a condition which causes damage to the optic nerve (connection between eye & brain) & can cause gradual loss in peripheral vision. OCT scans can measure many featues at the back of the eye, facilitating eary dianosis of glaucoma.
Vitreous Detachments (Vitreomacular Traction):
Vitreomacular Traction is easily diagnosed with OCT, providing invaluable information about the vitreous & retinal surface of the eye. With age, the vitreous jelly in the eyeball can change becoming less firm & can move away from the back of the eye. The danger of a vitreous detachment is the lack of pain & eyesight will seem unchanged, but the back of the eye may be damaged.
Macular Holes:
A macular hole is a small hole in the macula (the part of te retina which is responsible for our detailed, sharp central vision. This is the vision we use for looking directly at things (reading, sewing, computer). Macular holes are usually formed from complicated vitreous detachments, where the viteous pulls away from the back of the eye, causing a hole to form. OCT scans detect macular holes & management of this condiition is carried out by an opthalmologist in hospital.
Please Note: If you have any questions about the above please do not hesitate to ask.