Of all the tests we carry out as part of our enhanced eye exam, an OCT scan is the most advanced and one of the most revealing when it comes to your eye health.

What is an OCT Scan?

An OCT scan is a bit like the retinal imaging you may have had as part of your regular eye exam but more advanced. Whereas retinal imaging takes a picture of the back of your eye, an OCT scan produces a 3D rendering of the layers that make up the back of your eye and the head of the optic nerve. The OCT machine works a bit like an ultrasound, except it uses light instead of sound waves. The optometrist can review a map of the back of your eye composed of several images. This includes a cross-section, where the different layers of tissue are visible and can be measured.

We are committed to offering our patients the best clinical service we can, which is why we invested in the Topcon Triton OCT machine. Simply rest your head in place, keep your eyes open, and let the machine do the work. It takes a short time and you won’t feel anything. The results appear immediately so our optometrist can review them right away, no need to wait.

Why OCT Scan is Important

We recommend anyone over 18 has a regular OCT scan as part of their advanced eye exam. It’s the best way for us to get a close look at your eye health and give you peace of mind. Eye disease often doesn’t have any obvious symptoms until it is too late and your vision is irreversibly damaged.

By having an OCT test, we can check for early signs of sight-threatening conditions including glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, detached retina and diabetic retinopathy. The details revealed by this multi-layered scan can help to detect even the tiniest changes and accurately pinpoint their location.

By including an OCT scan each time you have an eye exam, the optometrist can compare your results and look for changes in the thickness of the layers that make up your eyes. As you get older, you are at greater risk of developing an eye condition that could affect your sight. Early detection enables a higher chance of successful treatment and preserving your vision.

If you have a pre-existing condition such as glaucoma or diabetes, regular OCT scans can be particularly useful for keeping track of changes or complications in your condition. The results are very helpful if we need to refer you to an ophthalmologist.

Contact us to book your enhanced eye exam with OCT today for peace of mind.