What does OCT examination of ophthalmology examine? Who needs OCT examination?

What is OCT?
In ophthalmology clinics, we often encounter patients who come for treatment due to blurred vision, decreased vision, and distorted vision. Ophthalmologists recommend that patients undergo an "OCT" examination, and some patients may feel confused:

"What is OCT? Is it the same as CT? Does it cause radiation?"

The full name of OCT in Chinese is Optical Coherence Tomography, and its English name is OCT for short. It is an ophthalmic examination method that uses light waves as imaging. It is non-contact, non-invasive, highly sensitive and high-resolution.

OCT examination can clearly show the morphological characteristics of the posterior segment of the eye, mainly the macula and optic disc, the interlayer structure of the retina, and the thickness changes of the retinal and neural microscopic layers. In addition, it can also observe the anterior segment tissues such as the cornea, iris, and lens , and accurately measure related data.

In short, OCT examination of the macula is completely different from the CT examination we know, and there is no radiation. It is a fast, safe, non-invasive, and radiation-free ophthalmological examination.

In what cases is an ophthalmic OCT examination necessary? 1. Macular disease

OCT examination can show whether there are new blood vessels, defects or high reflective areas in each section. These areas in the image will cause various macular diseases, such as macular degeneration, epiretinal membrane, macular hole, choroidal neovascularization, etc.

2. Diabetic retinopathy

The causes and course of diabetic retinopathy vary, but typical fundus changes at each stage can be shown on OCT, such as fundus punctate exudation, detachment of the central foveal neuroepithelium, hemorrhage, and cystoid macular edema.

3. Cataracts

OCT is also a must-check item before and after cataract surgery. It provides guidance before surgery and can evaluate the patient's fundus condition after surgery.

4. Before and after laser myopia surgery

The corneal thickness can be measured before surgery, and the corneal condition can be checked after surgery.

5. Corneal lesions

It can check the condition of the cornea, such as corneal thickness, location of corneal lesions, corneal morphology, etc. Moreover, OCT does not touch the cornea, which is more convenient and comfortable, and plays an important guiding role in the diagnosis and treatment of corneal lesions.

6. Optic nerve disease

OCT can show pathological changes that cannot or are difficult to detect by conventional fundus examination, such as varying degrees of thinning of the nerve fiber layer around the optic disc, thinning of the optic nerve fiber layer, and glaucoma cupping.

7. Severe myopia

OCT can be used to determine whether the posterior retina is atrophic or thinning, whether there is retinal splitting and shallow retinal detachment, and whether there is vitreous macular traction.

OCT examination is real-time imaging, high resolution, non-contact, non-invasive, and radiation-free. It is suitable for a wide range of people. Through this examination, ophthalmologists can diagnose, treat, and follow up diseases more accurately.

OCT examination is a non-invasive examination. We remain seated during the examination and only need to place our eyes in the designated position. The intraocular structure can be clearly displayed on the OCT instrument screen, helping doctors to detect abnormalities in the eye in a timely manner.