Optical Coherence Tomography

Corpus Christi Optometrist Performs Optical Coherence Tomography

Optical coherence tomography is a type of test that takes a picture of your eye. Our Corpus Christi optometrist performs optical coherence tomography (OCT) to detect disease or other problems that may be affecting your eye.

OCT is a non-invasive test that uses light waves to capture images of your retina, which is the light-sensitive area inside the back of your eye. The retina has several distinctive layers and each layer performs a different task. OCT can capture images of each layer; the technology can also map each layer and measure its thickness.

Corpus Christi Optometrist Performs OCT to Detect Glaucoma and Retinal Diseases, Age-related Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Eye Disease

The measurements help our optometrist diagnose and prescribe treatment for glaucoma and diseases associated with the retina, such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is useful in diagnosing many eye conditions, including:

  • Age-related macular degeneration
  • Glaucoma
  • Macular hole
  • Macular pucker
  • Macular edema
  • Central serous retinopathy
  • Diabetic retinopathy
  • Preretinal membranes

Our optometrist may also use OCT to evaluate problems with the optic nerve. Light passes through your pupil and strikes the retina at the back of your eye. Your retina picks up visual information and turns it into electrical signals that travel along the optic nerve to your brain, where your brain interprets the images and takes action based on what you see. Damage to the fibers of the optic nerve, like that caused by glaucoma, prevents your brain from receiving electrical impulses. OCT helps our optometrist visualize changes to these fibers.

Optical coherence tomography is helpful in the detection and diagnosis of many, but not all, eye conditions. Since OCT uses light waves, it is not helpful for the diagnosis of conditions that interfere with the passage of light through the eye, such as cataracts or significant bleeding inside the center of your eye.

Optometrist Describes the OCT Procedure

During your appointment with our optometrist, you will sit in front of the OCT machine and rest your chin on a support to help you hold your head still. The equipment will record the images without touching your eye. The scan takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete.

OCT is comfortable and promotes positive patient-doctor interaction. Instead of the optometrist sitting at the back of the machine, the OCT machine has our Corpus Christi optometrist sitting at a 90-degree angle that improves the flow of communication between you and our eye doctor.

It may be sometimes necessary to dilate, or widen, the pupils of your eyes. If so, your eyes may be sensitive to light for several hours after the exam.

If the scan shows something of concern, we can perform multiple scans. Each additional scan takes only a moment.

Learn more about optical coherence tomography or schedule an appointment to have one with our optometrist at Family Vision Associates by calling (361) 854-1833.

New patients receive 15% OFF first visit.

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