OCT stands for Optical Coherence Tomography and is a hospital grade scan used during our routine eye tests. The OCT scan helps us to screen for eye disease and provides an in-depth picture of your overall eye health too.

OCT technology uses light waves to take layered images of your retina, similar to how an ultrasound scan uses sound waves. 

Why do an OCT scan?

 

An OCT scan uses the latest technology to effectively screen for eye diseases that cause vision impairment and in some cases, blindness. Eye conditions such as glaucoma, AMD (age-related macular degeneration) and diabetic retinopathy can be detected early and referred for treatment. 

The scan looks at the layers at the back of your eye, your retina. It helps us to see what’s going on beneath the surface of your eye, providing a picture of the layers of your retina. From the scan, we can measure the thickness of the layers and monitor these measurements over time. Any changes, however subtle, may indicate the early signs of an eye condition. 

The optic nerve head is also visible at the back of your eye, so an OCT scan can also help to detect any disorders of the optic nerve.

An OCT scan is recommended for most adults over the age of 25. The scan is quick and painless – we’ll ask you to look into the machine one eye at a time and keep your eye open for a few seconds.

Eye tests with OCT scan

 

OCT is included as standard in our regular and GOLD private eye examinations. For our NHS patients, you can choose to add an OCT scan to an eye examination for an additional £45. 

If you have any questions, please call us on 01273 843946.