The Benefits of OCT Technology for Early Detection of Eye Diseases
Continual advances in optometry technology now provide more information during the diagnostic process of your eye exam. When you visit an eye doctor who offers the leading Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) technology, you can know that you are getting the best diagnostics that are available in the industry.
What is Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)?
OCT is a diagnostic instrument that offers a non-invasive way to take images of the retina in your eye. A 3D image provides a cross-sectional view of the retina, giving the eye doctor the opportunity to look for several eye conditions. This technology uses a light array to scan the eye in a way that shows the tissue layers of the retina.
During the exam, the eye doctor will place drops in your eyes for dilation. As the pupil expands, then the retina can be examined in more detail. You will need to sit in front of the machine for a few minutes while the machine scans your eyes.
The biggest advantage to OCT technology is that potential eye diseases can be identified before symptoms are present. Serious eye diseases can be detected using this technology, including diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, optic nerve damage, and macular degeneration. As a result, we can offer early treatment to protect your vision and avoid long-term eye problems.
Early Treatment Increases Long-Term Outcomes
Many eye diseases are progressive, which means that they continue to get worse without treatment. Often, the damage is irreversible. Once the eyes have been harmed by the disease, there is no way to restore the vision that has been lost.
By providing treatments in the early stages of the disease, we can slow the progress and protect the quality of your eyes. As a result, the success of these treatments improves, helping to avoid the serious damage that could negatively impact your vision.
Future Applications of OCT Technology
The technology is always changing and improving, which means that we can expect more advances in this diagnostic equipment in the future. It is hard to predict all of the advances that will be available, but experts are suggesting that new technology will offer a faster speed of scanning, changes in the light wavelength, and potentially using OCT as the primary imaging tool in many optometry offices.
When you visit our team at Village Eyecare for regular eye exams, you can rest assured to know that we will keep you updated in the industry. We are always staying abreast of the changes in vision care, to ensure that we offer the best technology and treatments in our offices.
Our staff at Village Eyecare has worked hard to develop a strong reputation as one of the leading optometry teams in the greater Chicago area! We are focused on your visual health and want to offer an excellent experience when you visit one of our four offices.
If you need to schedule an eye exam or you would like to learn about the technology in our offices, then we invite you to contact us for more information. We are here to help!