Optical coherence tomography, also called OCT, is a method for imaging the various layers of the retina, the optic nerve head, and the anterior segment of the eye. Similar to ultrasound, individual layers of tissue are scanned without touching the eye and displayed as a cross-section. The examination lasts a few seconds, does not require the administration of drugs, and is totally painless. OCT supports your doctor in diagnosing disease and monitoring change over time.
At Palo Alto Eye Group, we utilize the SPECTRALIS® OCT by Heidelberg Engineering with the Glaucoma Module Premium Edition to compare our patients’ eyes to a reference database of normal eyes. The precision of the SPECTRALIS system allows us to detect even small deviations from normal and confidently identify and monitor changes in the optic nerve from visit to visit.