OCT – Tomografia de Coerência Óptica

The evaluation of Macular Edema is another field with an increasing use which may be of great value in excluding traction causes and give valuable indications in its evolution. This ability to establish macular thickness and volume is of particular importance in ongoing studies on the intravitreal injection of various drugs (from corticosteroids to angiogenesis inhibitors).

Another important application is the measurement of the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in the region surrounding the optic disc.

Currently, it is a fundamental tool in the diagnosis of optic neuropathies, particularly in glaucoma. The thickness of the nerve fiber layer is measured and compared to the normal range.

In glaucoma, there is a strong correlation between the changes detected in the OCT and the defects found in the visual fields (Computerized Static Perimetry).

Optical Coherence Tomography is one of the most recent comprehensive tests used in the diagnosis of retinal and vitreous diseases, consisting of cross-sections of the retina and vitreoretinal interface.

This non-invasive test uses a technology similar to ultrasound B, using low coherence light instead of acoustic waves, obtaining structural representations with a much higher resolution (8 microns compared to 150 microns of standard ultrasound).

This technology was developed by Fujimoto at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and applied in diagnosis by Puliafito. This new technology has been improved in recent years and with the introduction of the latest model (OCT 3), the use of this complementary examination has been generalized, being nowadays a fundamental examination of the diagnosis, evolution and postoperative control of multiple macular pathologies.