Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a key part of your eye test with us, letting our optometrists see deep into the layers of your eye so we can detect changes and problems much earlier - even before you develop any symptoms or changes to your vision.

OCT scans are easy, simple and painless, going one step further than 2D retinal photographs - think of them like ultrasounds for your eye versus photographs, giving more depth and information about what’s going on. The technology used in OCT scans create intricately detailed 3D images of all of the layers and structures within your eye, including the vitreous humour (the jelly-like substance that fills your eyeball), your retina (the light-sensitive layer at the back of your eye), the macula (an area at the centre of your retina responsible for central vision) and the optic nerve (a nerve that sends signals from your eye to the brain to produce the images we see).  

What can OCT Scans Detect?

OCT scans can help to identify signs of eye conditions like glaucoma up to four years earlier than traditional methods, along with a number of other eye changes and diseases.

• Several macular issues: your macula is the part of the eye that processes what you see directly in front of you - your central vision. Macular problems that can be detected by an OCT include macular edema, age-related macular degeneration, and holes or weak points in the macula.
• Glaucoma: a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, which is responsible for sending visual information from the eye to the brain, making it essential for good vision. Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 60 years.
• Retinal detachment: where the retina separates from the blood vessels that provide it with nutrients and oxygen. This puts you at risk of permanent vision loss if it goes untreated for too long.
• Drusen: small clusters of fatty proteins that can form beneath the retina and damage it permanently.
• Retinal pigment epithelium detachment: when a portion of the retina called the retinal pigment epithelium separates from the membrane beneath it.
• Epiretinal membrane: when scar tissue forms on a portion of the retina responsible for our sharp vision.
• Retinoschisis: caused by different layers of the retina separating from each other.
• Central serous chorioretinopathy: caused by fluid building up beneath the retina and can result in vision loss.
• Optic disc edema: when too much pressure in the skull causes the optic disc to swell

When Should I Have An OCT Scan? OCT scans are usually carried out as part of your regular eye exam with us, which is recommended annually if you’re over the age of 65 or every two years for those under 65 years. Even if your vision and eye health seem fine, the information in the scan provides is very useful to track changes over time. However, if you notice any changes to your vision, or vision loss, your optometrist may use it to help identify any dangerous eye conditions, and begin appropriate treatment and prevention strategies as soon as possible.  

Book your optical coherence tomography scan as part of your annual eye exam at our clinics across Queensland by selecting your preferred location here.