OCT Retinal Imaging

Our Services

Ocular Coherence Tomography

OCT 3D Retinal imaging

Ocular Coherence Tomography is an advanced eye scan for people of all ages.

Similar to ultrasound, OCT uses light rather than sound waves to illustrate the different layers that make up the back of your eye.

The OCT machine captures both a fundus photograph and a cross-sectional scan of the back of the eye at the same time.

Using a Topcon state-of-the-art 3D OCT camera, your optometrist will take both a digital photograph and a three dimensional cross sectional scan of the back of your eye in one sitting. This allows us to instantly diagnose a number of common conditions. Your Optometrist will discuss the results of the scan with you as part of your consultation.

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What you need to know

Optomap Retinal Imaging

Our patients have been benefitting from OCT technology since 2017 and have recently further invested in an Optomap retinal imager.

OCT Scans provide scans of the deeper structures inside the central 15% of the macular. The Optomap scan provides a wide view of the surface retina – over 80%.

Together, these scans provide what is considered the ‘gold standard’ of eye examinations.

This is the most thorough eye examination that can be offered outside of a hospital and we are the only NHS Opticians in Chichester that offers both these scans.

Regular eye examinations are vital to maintaining your vision and overall health. The Richard Tildesley Practice offers the Optomap as an important part of our eye exams.

The Optomap produces an image that is unique and provides our Optometrists Fiona and Alex with a high resolution 200 degree image in order to ascertain the health of the retina.

Many eye problems can develop without you knowing. In fact you may not even notice any change in your sight. Fortunately, diseases or damage such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal tears or detachments, and other health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure can be seen with a thorough examination of the retina.

The inclusion of Optomap as part of a comprehensive eye exam provides:

An image to show a healthy eye or detect disease.
A view of the retina, giving your optometrist a more comprehensive view than through a standard eye exam.
A permanent record for your file which allows your optometrist to view your images to look for changes.

The optomap is fast, easy and painless. The entire imaging process consists of you looking into a device, one eye at a time. The Optomap images are shown immediately on a computer screen so that they can be reviewed with you.

What does it show?

Macular degeneration

Macular degeneration causes the gradual breakdown of the macular (the central portion of the retina). OCT can identify this condition and its type (there are two types, wet and dry) and also monitor its progress, for example if you are undergoing treatment for such a condition. Unfortunately the risk of developing macular degeneration increases with age, and it is the most common cause of vision loss in individuals over the age of fifty.

Diabetes

Diabetic retinopathy is a major cause of visual impairment among adults. Here in the UK, more than two million people have been identified as having diabetes. OCT examination enables early detection, which greatly improves the success rate of treatment.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma damages the optic nerve at the point where it leaves the eye. Recent statistics suggest that some form of glaucoma affects around two in every 100 people over the age of 40. The danger with chronic glaucoma is that there is no pain and your eyesight will seem to be unchanged, but your vision is being damaged. An OCT examination will confirm if you are at risk, or indeed what stage of glaucoma you may have.

Macular holes

Macular holes A macular hole is a small hole in the macular – the part of the retina which is responsible for our sharp, detailed, central vision. This is the vision we use when we are looking directly at things, when reading, sewing or using a computer.

There are many causes of macular holes. One is caused by vitreous detachment, when the vitreous pulls away from the back of the eye and sometimes it does not ‘let go’ and eventually tears the retina, leaving a hole. Extreme exposure to sunlight (for example staring at the sun during an eclipse) can also cause a macular hole to develop.

Vitreous detachment

Vitreous detachments Vitreomacular traction can clearly be diagnosed through OCT providing invaluable information about the current relationship between the vitreous and the retinal surface of the eye.

As people get older the vitreous jelly that takes up the space in our eyeball can change. It becomes less firm and can move away from the back of the eye towards the centre, in some cases parts do not detach and cause ‘pulling’ of the retinal surface. The danger of a vitreous detachment is that there is no pain and your eyesight will seem unchanged but the back of your eye may be being damaged.

Step By step

Having an eye scan is simple and painless, just follow the steps below to bring about peace of mind.

Step 1 Book an appointment with your optometrist

Step 2 The optometrist will scan your eyes using the state-of-the-art 3D OCT camera from Topcon

Step 3 The high resolution 3D images are examined by the optometrist using specialist built-in analysis tools

Step 4 The results are presented to you

Step 5 Any future scans can be compared with previous ones for comparative diagnosis

Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Optomap Imaging

These scans are non-invasive, painless, simple and quick. What’s more, the software can automatically detect even the most subtle changes to the retina with every eye test you take. This gives you an invaluable ongoing record of the health and condition of your eyes.

There is an additional charge for these scans, but the benefits are obvious. So you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your eyes are in great condition.

WE RECOMMEND YOU HAVE AN OCT and OPTOMAP SCAN IF:

You are over 60.
You are over 40 and short sighted.
You have diabetes.
If you have Glaucoma or a family history of glaucoma.
If you have any retinal abnormalities.
If there is any history or any eye problems.

WE RECOMMEND YOU HAVE AN OPTOMAP SCAN ONLY IF:

You are under 25

What our Customers say

“I am eternally and immensely grateful to Fiona for spotting the (retinal) irregularity, and also to the practice as a whole for having the machinery in place to find something before it became a massive sight problem for me.”

Mrs C, April 2020

Want to make an Appointment?

Please call us on 01243 786600 or 01243 786590.

We welcome Private and NHS patients.

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