To get the best clinical outcomes you need three key ingredients, an experienced clinician, hi-tech equipment and quality time. Fortunately at Actons Opticians we have all three.
- Experienced Clinician – owner optometrist Victoria is highly respected for her clinical expertise and has over twenty years experience as an optometrist.
- Hi-tech Equipment – our consulting room is one of the best equipped in the county, and most importantly all scans and tests are performed by Victoria, a qualified optometrist.
- Quality Time – our appointment times are a generous forty-five minutes, so there is no rush.
OCT
We have a Spectralis® Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scanner, the exact same OCT scanner used in hospital eye departments. We are one of only two opticians in the county equipped with this particular scanner.
OCT scans can detect eye diseases much earlier than traditional methods, for example glaucoma can be detected up to four years earlier, enabling earlier treatment and prevention of sight loss.
What is an OCT?
An OCT scan provides a series of high-resolution 3D digital images of the back of the eye, it can detect changes as small as 1/1000th millimetre.
An OCT scan provides the detail needed to identify the earliest signs of sight threatening diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration long before there are any symptoms, early detection can help prevent sight loss.
It is estimated that by the age of 60 half of the population will have some degree of cataract. A developing cataract can make it difficult to assess your retina for any other signs of disease using traditional methods. Fortunately our OCT has the ability to scan through cataracts to detect any problems.
One in two cases of sight loss can be avoided
It is easy to forget about your eye health when you have good vision, and you may be unaware of the onset of disease before symptoms appear. Once you are aware of changes to your vision, irreversible damage may already have occurred. With an OCT we can detect changes long before you are aware of them, giving you a head-start on treating the condition and preventing potential sight loss.
What can an OCT detect?
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) – is the cause of one in two cases of serious sight loss, affecting the central vision. Once this happens, simple activities like driving, watching TV and recognising faces can become very difficult.
Glaucoma – Half of all glaucoma patients are not aware that they have it. If you have a family history of glaucoma, it is especially important to have regular checks as damage to the eye is irreversible. Until the disease has reached an advanced stage, the brain can compensate for blind spots by filling in the gaps. This can mask the condition for some time, so regular screening is vital.
Diabetic Retinopathy – With half of patients being unaware that they have diabetes, the resulting loss of vision caused by the disease is a serious concern to health care professionals. With early detection and treatment of diabetic retinopathy, the chances of sight loss can be reduced for nine out of 10 patients.
Who should have an OCT?
OCTs are suitable for all patients over 25 years old, and are particularly recommended for over 40s and anyone with a family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration.
If you would like an OCT scan please let us know when you book your sight examination, or contact us if you have any questions.
