Optical coherence tomography - Causes, symptoms and treatment. MF.

Optical coherence tomography is a method of studying the eye tissues, which allows one to lifetime to obtain an image using infrared radiation in high spatial resolution. This method is the most accurate and allows you to examine the eye tissue at a microscopic level, and it allows you to explore not only the morphological structure of the tissue, but also its functional state. It is similar to a biopsy, but at the same time there is no interference in the body, and accordingly there are no limitations that are peculiar to a biopsy. Also, the undoubted advantage of optical coherence tomography is the speed of obtaining the result: the patient receives it immediately after the study.

The essence of the method is to measure the time taken to reflect the light pulse from the tissue being examined. Thus, you can get an intravital transverse tissue section, a two-dimensional, as well as a three-dimensional image of it.

A prerequisite for conducting optical coherence tomography is the transparency of the optical media of the eye, i. E.absence of gross corneal scars, absence of cataract and opacity of vitreous body.

Indication:

1. Any pathology of the central zone of the retina( rupture, edema, macular degeneration).
2. Retinal bundle.
3. Glaucoma.
4. Pathology of the optic nerve.
5. Dynamic observation.

Contraindications

This method has no contraindications, except for inadequate behavior of the patient due to drug or alcohol intoxication. Sometimes it is very difficult to apply this method of research in patients suffering from nystagmus or strabismus.

Carrying out the

procedure There is no particular preparation for this study. Sometimes it is necessary to expand the patient's pupil, which is achieved by instilling drops of tropicamide or cyclopentolate.

The patient sits down in front of the device, puts his chin on a special stand and looks at the label suggested to him.

At this time the doctor uses the device to scan the necessary eye structures. The device produces a black and white image of the cut, but for more convenient visualization, denser structures are painted in red. A tomograph based on a patient database, as well as on the basis of previous research results of this patient, is able to analyze the result obtained, is able to assess the development of the process in dynamics or to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment.

For some time after the procedure, there may be a feeling of some discomfort in the eyes, it is also possible lacrimation.

The procedure takes an average of about 5 minutes.

Doctor ophthalmologist Odinochko EA