OCT & RETINAL DIGITAL IMAGING
'A PICTURE OF A 3D SCAN SPEAKS A 1000 WORDS'
Did you know that about 80% of blindness and irreversible vision loss is caused by back-of-the-eye diseases such as Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy and Age-Related Macular Degeneration? The good news is that regular eye exams and early detection of these diseases can prevent irreversible vision loss. Not all eye diseases are age-related so it is recommended to start monitoring the health of your eyes early in life and our complete Vision Wellness evaluation with the REVO OCT is quick and comfortable and will provide you with the peace of mind you deserve.
What is an OCT Scan?
An optical coherence tomography scan (OCT) is a non-invasive scan which enables us to view the health of your eyes in greater detail, by allowing us to see what’s going on beneath the surface of your eye.
Imagine it like a cake where we can see the topping or surface of the cake using the 2D digital retinal photography (fundus camera), whereas the 3D image produced from an OCT scan slices the cake in half so we can now see all the filling and layers inside. We are then able to map out and measure the thickness of these layers to get an even clearer idea of your eye health.
OCT can check for macular degeneration, diabetes, glaucoma, retinal and vitreous detachments amongst other eye disorders and by finding this in the early stages, it usually means that you can get better treatment options and a better visual result. This is because back-of-the-eye diseases tend to sneak up on us without any symptoms in their early stages, which is when treatment can be effective.
Since the delivery of the REVO OCT scanner at Feltham Eyecare Centre, it’s been instrumental at detecting sight threatening conditions such as macular degeneration, fluid behind the retina, early signs of breaks in the macula and much more, helping to safeguard your sight earlier and more rapidly.
This is not part of an NHS eye test and is part of our Gold Standard Eye Examination and does not require pupil dilation, like other retinal exams making it painless. Early detection means earlier treatment which means that conditions can be managed before they get worse and can help prevent potential sight loss.
What is the REVO OCT Scan?
Utilising the very latest in eye scan technologies called Optical Coherence Tomography the REVO-OCT Wellness Scan provides a non invasive imaging method allowing detailed visualisation beneath the retinal surface to detect any abnormalities in the different retinal layers, to an almost cellular level, and monitor any changes over time.
REVO-OCT Wellness Scanning allows your optometrist to detect any abnormalities in the different retinal layers, analyse these and monitor any changes over time. Meaning safer care and better preservation of sight. Regular monitoring is key to the process as changes in the back of the eye often happen very subtly and slowly – without causing any symptoms. As such the many retinal layers should be monitored periodically with check-up scans to detect any changes from your initial base line exam.
What can I expect during my exam?
The scan itself takes only a matter of seconds. It is totally non-invasive, so nothing touches your eye so it’s pain/discomfort free! After a thorough cleanse of the equipment, you will be asked to place your chin on the chin-rest and look at a light, which may be moved according to the area scanned.
The 2D & 3D HD-Scans are analysed and interpreted by specialised on board clinical diagnostic software. If necessary, further analysis can be undertaken by your Optometrist.
• It could save your vision
• Screens for the early detection of the major causes of blindness including; Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy, Macular Degeneration and more…
• Detect and diagnose conditions sooner, allowing for earlier intervention & treatment
• Provides an increased chance of better outcomes for your ocular health and in turn your overall health
What does it detect?
The REVO-OCT wellness scan can detect numerous eye diseases, even in their early stages. Three of the most prominentconditions that can lead to blindness if not treated are:
Glaucoma
Impairs vision by damaging the optic nerve, the cable of nerve fibers that transmits coded information from the eye to the brain.
It usually involves an elevation of pressure inside the eye caused by excess fluid in the front part of the eye.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Is caused by damage to the small blood vessels in the retina, the light sensing tissue in the back of the eye.
The affect of diabetic retinopathy on vision varies widely, depending on the stage of the disease
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Is a degenerative condition of the macula, the part of the retina solely responsible for seeing in colour and for providing the sharp, central vision needed to see faces clearly, read or even drive.
Plus other pathologies including retinal detachment, macular holes and many more…
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does the REVO OCT detect? The REVO OCT can detect early signs of the major eye diseases which constitute 80% of world blindness: Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy, Age related Macular Degeneration, and other retinal pathologies. One of the unique benefits of the REVO OCT is that it provides an objective analysis of your retina (back-of-the-eye) in one scan.
2. What do I get out of this examination? When you take the REVO OCT examination for the first time you get a complete analysis of the back of your eye (the retinal layers) where many eye diseases start. Your results are automatically compared to a normative database and if there are any suspicious findings you will be referred to an eye specialist for further investigation. When you return for your periodical follow-up examination, your results are also compared to your first (baseline) results to see if there have been any changes since your last check up. Because these diseases are symptomless in their early stages, when you take the REVO OCT examination you can be sure that there are no eye diseases “sneaking up” on you.
3. I am young and healthy. Do I need to take the exam? Yes! General health does not necessarily prevent retinal diseases and not all retinal diseases are associated with old age. The problem is that these diseases “sneak up on you”. There is no pain, there are hardly any symptoms, and waiting until there is vision loss before going to see a doctor or optometrist may be too late! The damage is irreversible. The point is to detect it as early as possible so you can start treatment and prevent vision loss.
4. What happens if the exam detects a problem? If the REVO OCT finds an abnormal parameter – we will refer you to an eye specialist with the REVO OCT scan results which will tell him/her what to look for and where. But even if the exam does not find anything, and hopefully that will be the case, we will still have a baseline examination, which we can use for a yearly follow up on the health of your eyes.
5. Why do I need to take the REVO OCT exam every year? Most eye diseases develop slowly over time, and some are symptomless until their advanced stages. Every time you take the REVO OCT exam – your results are automatically compared to your previous exam because even subtle changes in your retina can be indicative of a retinal disease.
6. How long does the exam take? The exam itself takes only a matter of seconds per eye. It is quick, painless and non-invasive
7. How is the REVO OCT different from a regular eye exam by an optometrist? Most optometrists will examine the front part of your eye – your cornea and lens and only the retinal surface. (Fundus imaging). The REVO OCT scans all the layers of the retina, the surface and beneath the surface. 80% of blindness is caused by back-of-the-eye diseases, so it is very important to get a periodical objective and quantitative assessment of all the layers of the retina. In addition the REVO OCT will also assess the anterior chamber, the front part of the eye which further enhances any previous corneal and lens examinations.
8. Will the doctor/ophthalmologists know how to read the report? Yes. Within many hospitals, OCT scans are commonly used and the REVO OCT scans and analytical results can easily be interpreted.
9. If I have cataract – will it affect the scan? Generally, the REVO OCT needs a “clear path” in order to scan. Severe cataract will make it difficult to complete the exam. However, if the cataract is in its early stages and depending on where it is located, usually the REVO OCT can bypass it and still acquire a good informative scan. Back-of-the-eye examinations are very important to your vision wellness, so taking the REVO OCT exam is worth a try, even if you have cataract.
10. Will my pupils need to be dilated? In most cases the REVO OCT does not require pupil dilation. We can usually measure through pupils as small as 3mm.
11. If I need to drive later, will that be a problem? If your pupils are not dilated there is no problem to drive after the exam. The REVO OCT examination only uses a few flashes of light for each scan. if dilation is required then consult with your optometrist who will advise accordingly.
12. If my refractive error is high, will I be able to take the exam? Yes, the REVO OCT can compensate for most refractive corrections.
13. If I have contact lenses on, can I still do the test? Yes, generally there should be no problem doing the exam with contact lenses.
Digital Retinal Imaging
Digital Retinal imaging is not part of a standard NHS eye test and is included in our Gold Standard Eye Examination. This is an extra safeguard that we have invested in to ensure that you continue to receive the highest standard of eyecare.
It is a simple, non-invasive procedure which provides an in-depth picture of your overall eye health. Reviewing the image can potentially indicate early signs of any eye condition, making it much easier to diagnose, treat and manage. This enables us to continually safeguard the health of your eyes by building a picture of comparison every time you visit us.
We know that a picture speaks a thousand words, so here are images to describe the difference in procedures
This image shows a traditional NHS eye examination performing a Volk eye check where only a small area of the eye can be seen at any one time. This makes scanning your eye looking for any individual areas of concern difficult. It’s a bit like having an incomplete jigsaw puzzle with all the pieces on the floor looking where to start.
This image shows advanced retinal imaging where we can see the back of your eye in one detailed view. This makes scanning your eye looking for any individual areas of concern much easier as all parts of the eye can be seen at once. So in this scenario, the jigsaw puzzle is approximately 90% complete making it much easier to identify which pieces to look at first.
Your advanced retinal imaging eye examination is simple and painless and enables us to identify early stages of eye conditions including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma to safeguard the future of your vision.
