The ABC of OCT

Technology to help diagnose and monitor eye conditions has come a long way – in particular our ability to image the structures of the eye (see Figure 1).

OCT in action 

OCT has been used for many years in hospital eye departments, but has become increasingly common in High Street practice. It can be thought of as the optical equivalent of ultrasound and works by shining certain wavelengths of light into the eye and measuring the amount reflected from the internal structures. It is most commonly used to image the retina; the light sensitive part of the eye, akin to the film in a camera. However, OCT can also be used to view other structures both at the front and back of the eye, such as the optic nerve head (which becomes damaged in glaucoma), and the cornea and iris.

Direct ophthalmoscopy is a staple technique which has been used for many years by optometrists to examine the eye. This involves getting very close to the eye with a bright light, which is quite invasive of personal space. Although techniques like this are still a necessary part of an eye examination, information they provide can be limited. Firstly, the view is restricted; only a small area of the retina can be seen at any one time (about 5°), and optometrists use movement to scan different parts of the retina to build up an overall mental picture of the inside of the eye. Secondly, because the optometrist uses only one of their eyes for this technique, depth perception is limited, making it more difficult to detect raised areas such as tumours.

The limitations of direct ophthalmoscopy were overcome with the introduction of other forms of examination, such as slit lamp binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy (often referred to as Volk assessment). This gives a larger field of view of the retina and allows optometrists to see depth since they view with both eyes.

Additionally, because it is performed on the slit lamp, it allows extra distance between the clinician and the patient, making it a less invasive experience. Although clinicians can reliably use these techniques to detect abnormalities, the results are recorded descriptively using words and/or drawings and are subjective. This means that they are open to interpretation, and different clinicians may describe features in different ways, making it difficult to monitor abnormalities over time.
Standard practice

Retinal photography (or fundus photography) is now commonplace in High Street practices. This can be used to capture colour images of the retina (typically covering 30–50°), which can be saved electronically and reviewed by clinicians. They can easily be compared between subsequent visits, making them excellent for monitoring abnormalities over time. However, they produce only two-dimensional images of a three-dimensional structure (like a normal photograph), which can make it difficult to assess the exact depth and extent of any abnormalities seen.

The retina is a complex layered structure made up of many different cell types, responsible for absorbing light and converting it to a signal to send to the visual areas of the brain for processing. Different eye conditions can affect different layers of the retina, and being able to assess which layers are affected in a patient is very useful – this is where OCT comes in. Unlike retinal photographs, OCT devices can be used to capture three-dimensional images of the retina within a matter of seconds, providing a wealth of information about the health of the eye. In particular, they can tell us information about the different layers of the retina (see Figure 2). Due to the cross-sectional view provided, OCT images enable clinicians to pinpoint the exact location of abnormalities seen on ophthalmoscopy or retinal photography, allowing accurate diagnosis and management of many eye conditions.

Image credit: Heidelberg Engineering