OCT is an indispensable tool for doctors to carry out eye examinations more accurately. It gives accurate information about the retina and the macula, which are responsible for the delivery of sharp images.
With this information, your eye doctor can recommend the proper treatment, follow the progress of the disease if any, and assess the effectiveness of the treatment. The test is painless, and quick.
OCT can assist in the diagnosis of several conditions including:
- Age-related macular degeneration
- Glaucoma
- Fundus lesions caused by diabetes (maculopathy)
- Other types of macular diseases
At Saint James Eye Clinic, we use the Cirrus 5000, which is a newly developed diagnostic device by Zeiss.
Diagnostic tests for age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
The age-related macular degeneration is the most common cause of blindness and visual impairment in adults over the age of 50, and OCT examination plays a crucial role since it is able to detect any early changes that do not cause any noticeable visual complaints.
Diagnostic tests for diabetic maculopathy
Diabetic maculopathy is a severe visual impairment often caused by some form of retinal damage that occurs in the macula. A timely eye examination using a diagnostic tool such as the OCT helps to identify the problem so that appropriate treatment can be started on time.
Diagnostic tests for glaucoma
Glaucoma is a chronic, slow-progressive disease in which the number of optic nerve fibers decrease persistently. Clear vision can only be protected with timely diagnosis and appropriate therapy.
In addition to medication to regulate the eye pressure, regular monitoring by means of computerised visual field tests, fundus examination and OCT are of utmost importance.