Advanced eye imaging?

OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) is one of the most significant advances in eye care of the past two decades. It's a quick, painless scan that produces detailed three-dimensional images of the back of your eye, letting us see structures and layers that simply aren't visible during a standard eye examination.

Think of it as an MRI for your eye. Where a traditional eye test lets us see the surface of the retina, OCT lets us see beneath it, layer by layer, in extraordinary detail. This means we can spot the earliest signs of disease often years before they would affect your vision, and well before you'd notice any symptoms yourself.

What an OCT scan can reveal:

• Early signs of age-related macula degeneration
• Glaucoma damage to the optic nerve, often before vision loss begins
• Diabetic retinopathy and subtle changes in the retina
• Retinal detachment, tears, or thinning
• Macula holes, swelling, or fluid build-up
• Vitreous changes and posterior vitreous detachment

What to expect

The scan itself takes just a few minutes. You'll rest your chin on a support, look at a small target light, and the machine quietly captures hundreds of cross-sectional images. There's no contact with your eye, no dye, no bright flashing lights, and nothing to recover from. You can drive straight after.

Should you have one?

We offer OCT scanning as an optional addition to your eye examination. It's not something every patient needs every year, but it's particularly valuable if you have a family history of glaucoma or macula degeneration, are diabetic, are over 50, have a high prescription, or have noticed any changes in your vision. Your optometrist will be happy to talk through whether an OCT scan is worth considering in your case.

Building a record over time

When you do have an OCT scan, we keep your images on record. By comparing scans from one appointment to the next, we can spot subtle changes that might otherwise go unnoticed, giving us a head start on managing any condition that develops. For patients with ongoing eye health concerns, this is one of the most valuable diagnostic tools available.

Ask us about adding an OCT scan when you book, or speak with your optometrist on the day.

OCT scanning is included as part of our comprehensive eye examinations. We use the latest technology to monitor your eye health over time.