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OCT Scanning
What Is An OCT Scan & How Does It Work?
Similar to how an ultrasound uses sound waves, an OCT scan uses light waves to take detailed images of the back of your eye, all the way to the optic nerve.
The image is 3D, which means our Optometrist can view the thickness of the layers that make up the back of your eye for a clear idea of your eye health. Even the tiniest of changes of the eye’s structure may indicate the early signs of an eye condition.
What Happens In An OCT Scan?
An OCT scan is quick, painless and simple to complete.
Whilst at Pullen & Symes for your eye examination, if an OCT scan is to be carried out, you will be asked to sit in front of the machine with your chin on the rest. You will be directed to look towards a central point by our Optometrist and the machine will scan your eye without touching it.
The scan takes an image of both of your eyes at the same time. You will see a small flash like the one from a digital camera, but there will be no lasting effects.
An OCT scan gives our Optometrist a baseline image of layers that make up your retina. As many eye diseases can develop without symptoms, this baseline image allows us to see what’s going on beneath the surface of your eye and monitor changes over time.
Even if your eyes appear healthy on the surface, an OCT scan can help us to detect eye conditions such as:
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Glaucoma
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Disorder of the optic nerve
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Age-related macular degeneration
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Diabetic retinopathy
With these potentially sight-threatening conditions, the earlier they are detected the quicker treatment can be started to minimise their impact.
What Are The Benefits Of OCT?
"Pullen & Symes was able to give me such sage advice in relation to my peripheral vision test, which was relevant to my own problem of possible damage to my optic nerves.
The Endocrine Specialist who has recently dealt with me has confirmed the accuracy of Pullen & Symes' comments, which shows there is no such damage.
Many thanks to them for getting that absolutely right! We wish you every success for the future and we shall be pleased to come to you again. We shall also be pleased to recommend your practice."
Brian Rollings
