How Does OCT Work? OCT works similarly to an ultrasound. It provides real-time images of your eye’s internal structures like an ultrasound, but OCT uses light waves instead of sound waves. These light waves illuminate and scan your retina, giving your optometrist a detailed view.

Similarly, Is the OCT scan worth it?

Do I need an OCT scan? The routine sight test is good at detecting signs of eye disease. … Without an OCT machine the optometrist may refer you to hospital to have this done free of charge. If your optometrist has an OCT machine they can offer to investigate this for you to see if you need to be referred for treatment.

Additionally, How does Heidelberg retinal tomography work? The HRT uses a special laser to take 3-dimensional photographs of the optic nerve and surrounding retina. This laser, which will not harm the eye, is focused on the surface of the optic nerve and captures the image. The HRT takes images of deeper and deeper layers until the desired depth has been reached.

What conditions can OCT detect?


What Conditions Can OCT Help Diagnose?

  • macular hole.
  • macular pucker.
  • macular edema.
  • age-related macular degeneration.
  • glaucoma.
  • central serous retinopathy.
  • diabetic retinopathy.
  • vitreous traction.

Can an OCT scan detect retinal detachment?

OCT can detect signs of glaucoma, retinal detachment, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and more at an incredibly early stage. Any one of these eye diseases is potentially sight threatening.

Can an OCT scan detect a brain tumor?

The researchers are using OCT imaging to determine the tumor boundaries.

How much does an OCT eye test cost?

OCT (Optical Coherence Tomograph) – Fee $100

This allows for detailed examination of the various parts of the eye.

Is optical coherence tomography the same as Heidelberg retinal tomography?

OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) detects damage of only the nerve fibre layer. HRT (Heidelberg Retina Tomography) looks at changes in the topography of the optic nerve – like looking at the erosion of a mountain.

How long does a retinal scan take?

The entire process takes around 5 minutes. In special cases, if your optometrist suspects you have a type of macular degeneration, you may need a body-safe dye injected by IV to highlight blood vessels in your eye before the test. This can take up to 30 minutes.

What is HRT scan?

What is a Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT) Scan? This is a laser scan to capture images of and analyse the optic discs at the back of both eyes. It differs from a photo as the laser scans the layers of the disc in detail. These image scans are used as a baseline for future scans if the condition needs to be monitored.

What can an eye scan show up?


5 Common Health Problems Eye Exams Can Detect

  • Diabetes. Diabetes affects the capillaries in your retina and may cause them to leak a yellowish fluid or bleed. …
  • High blood pressure. …
  • High cholesterol. …
  • Rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. …
  • Certain types of cancer.

What can eye scan detect?


For 2020: Year of the Eye, here are 20 surprising conditions your eye doctor may detect during a comprehensive eye exam:

  • Aneurysm. An aneurysm is a bubble in the wall of a blood vessel. …
  • Brain tumor. …
  • Cancers of blood, tissue or skin. …
  • Diabetes. …
  • Giant cell arteritis. …
  • Heart disease. …
  • High blood pressure. …
  • High cholesterol.

Is OCT scan same as retinal scan?

Whereas standard digital retinal photography allows us to see the surface of the back of your eye, the OCT scanner gives us a detailed 3D image of the inside of your eye, including its retina and layers.

Is an OCT the same as a retinal scan?

The images taken by OCT are quite different than those taken by digital retinal imaging, but they are no less effective, and are used to detect different symptoms. What an OCT scan allows an optometrist to do is to observe the different layers of the retina. It also enables them to discern the thickness of the retina.

What can an eye scan detect?

It shows the retina (where light and images hit), the optic disk (a spot on the retina that holds the optic nerve, which sends information to the brain), and blood vessels. This helps your optometrist or ophthalmologist find certain diseases and check the health of your eyes.

Can eye doctors tell if you have a brain tumor?

Your eye exam could help to detect if you have a brain tumor. If you have a brain tumor, your eye doctor may notice that you have blurry vision, one eye dilated more than the other or one remains fixed, and they may detect changes to optic nerve color or shape.

What were your first signs of a brain tumor?


What were your first signs and symptoms of a brain tumor?

  • Irritability, drowsiness, apathy or forgetfulness.
  • Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs.
  • Dizziness.
  • Partial loss of vision or hearing.
  • Hallucinations, depression or mood swings.
  • Personality changes, including abnormal and uncharacteristic behavior.

How do doctors detect brain tumors?

In general, diagnosing a brain tumor usually begins with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Once MRI shows that there is a tumor in the brain, the most common way to determine the type of brain tumor is to look at the results from a sample of tissue after a biopsy or surgery.

How much is an OCT?

Traditional OCT machines weigh more than 60 pounds, take up an entire desk, and cost anywhere between $50,000 and $120,000. The new OCT device weighs four pounds, is about the size of a lunch box and, Wax expects, will be sold for less than $15,000.

How much does retinal screening cost?

Charges of $30 to $60 for screening retinal photography are common. These fees are not generally covered by third-party payers. I know of practices in which over 80 percent of patients agree to have digital retinal imaging despite the added cost.

Do Boots Opticians have an OCT scanner?

Find your local OCT Opticians

Our OCT Advanced Eye Scan is available in selected Boots Opticians stores – visit our store locator and check the store services for OCT to find your nearest store.

What is Optomap retinal imaging?

The Optomap Retinal Exam is a non-dilating camera that captures a digital image of the retina. The Optomap allows the doctor to capture a 200° high-resolution image of the retina in a single shot– without dilation — in a quarter of a second.

What is a GDx eye test?

The GDx (short for Glaucoma Diagnosis) is a type of scanning laser polarimeter. The GDx uses a diode laser in the near infrared region to measure nerve fiber layer thickness and 65,536 retinal points. The polarized light passes through the retinal nerve fiber layer.

Is Heidelberg retinal tomography covered by OHIP?

At present, the cost of this examination is not covered by OHIP. The examination fee of $80.00 for both eyes will be billed to you directly. A receipt will be provided that can be submitted to private insurance companies for possible reimbursement. You will need an examination every year.