If you want the most advanced insight into your eye health, an OCT scan is a game changer. At Mackereth Opticians, we’re proud to offer this cutting-edge technology that gives us – and you – a detailed, 3D view of what’s happening inside your eyes.
Think of OCT as an ultrasound for your eyes, except it uses light waves instead of sound waves to create incredibly detailed cross-sectional images of your retina. It’s painless and non-invasive – no puffs of air, no uncomfortable lights, just quick and easy scanning that takes between 5 and 10 minutes.
The beauty of OCT technology is that it reveals the different layers at the back of your eye in stunning detail. This means we can spot tiny changes that might not be visible during a standard eye examination.
Many serious eye conditions develop slowly without obvious symptoms in the early stages. By the time you notice something’s wrong, the condition may have already progressed. An OCT scan changes that.
This technology excels at early detection of conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. We can see the earliest signs of these diseases – sometimes years before they’d show up in a standard examination. Better still, if you already have an eye condition, OCT scans let us monitor it, picking up subtle changes that tell us whether treatment is working or needs adjusting.
The scans are also invaluable when we need to refer patients to an ophthalmologist. We can provide detailed images that help hospital specialists make faster, more accurate diagnoses.
We recommend OCT scans for all adults as part of their comprehensive eye care. While it’s especially important if you’re over 40, have a family history of eye disease, are diabetic, or have high myopia, the truth is that everyone benefits from this level of detail about their eye health.
If our optometrist feels there’s a clinical need, we may also recommend OCT scans for children.
We use the Topcon Maestro2, one of the most sophisticated OCT systems available. It’s quick, comfortable, and produces incredibly clear images that we can review with you immediately. You’ll actually see your own retinal layers on the screen – most patients find it fascinating!
The scan takes just a few minutes per eye. You’ll be able to drive home, go back to work, or carry on with your day straight away. We’ll explain the results to you there and then, showing you the images and answering any questions you have.
Ready to get the most comprehensive picture of your eye health? Whether you’re adding it to your regular eye examination or specifically booking in for OCT imaging, we’re here to provide the advanced care your eyes deserve.