OCT – examination of the anterior segment of the eye

• An eye examination may require dilation of the pupils. Patients' vision may be impaired for approximately 2-3 hours following the examination.
  During this time, they should not drive or engage in activities requiring normal vision.
• Applying the drops may cause watery eyes – for the patient’s safety and comfort, it is recommended to remove eye makeup before the consultation.

OCT (optical coherence tomography) is a modern examination that allows for the assessment of the eye. It is primarily used to diagnose retinal diseases. It is non-invasive and, therefore, can replace more complex methods. Performing an OCT scan of the eye allows for the creation of a cross-sectional model of the tissue. The procedure is somewhat similar to an ultrasound examination. A beam of light is introduced into the eye, reflecting off the light and providing information about the position of individual parts. OCT is performed in people with conditions such as age-related macular degeneration. Diabetes is also indicated. People with macular edema are also referred for OCT. This can be of unknown origin. This is where OCT can help make a diagnosis.

Imaging of the anterior segment of the eye: corneal cross-sections, including pachymetry (non-contact measurement of corneal thickness), and iridocorneal angle measurement (the iridocorneal angle is responsible for the outflow of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye, while maintaining proper intraocular pressure. Abnormal iridocorneal angle structure contributes to increased intraocular pressure).

The examination process: To visualize the appropriate area on the fundus of the eye, the patient is asked to look in various directions. Periodically, the patient may be asked to refrain from blinking. It may be necessary to dilate the pupils with eye drops, at the doctor's discretion. The examination is painless; the light beam used to take measurements is completely safe for the eye.