Heidelberg Spectralis 4D OCT Eye Scan
Detecting eye disease up to 8 years sooner than a standard eye test
An OCT (optical coherence tomography) retina scan is entirely different from the routine eye photos taken by many opticians or your diabetic clinics. Using safe, low-powered lasers, the OCT instrument scans below the eye’s surface. It is completely painless, non-invasive and takes only a matter of seconds. Your results are available instantaneously, and it is an excellent way for you and your optometrist to better understand the health of your eyes or any eye conditions.
Buchanan Optometrists are one of the first practices in the UK to offer you the new Spectralis 4D OCT (Optical Coherence Tomographer) Retinal Scan and one of only a few places able to perform OCT-a scans to view retinal blood flow for monitoring macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease. Using this phenomenal machine and incredible computer technology, we can now diagnose so many more eye problems at the earliest possible stage (sometimes up to 8 years earlier than standard tests). We can treat eye conditions sooner and prevent many from developing, which is the main aim of our job, maintaining your sight.
What does it do?
The Retina is the inner lining at the back of your eye. It acts similarly to the film in a camera, capturing the image of what you see and then transferring this image to the brain for interpretation. When an Optometrist looks into your eye or takes a photograph, it is the retina they are looking at.
Conventional digital cameras, used by many opticians, just look at the top surface of the retina, but many eye problems start at a deeper level. The Spectralis 4D OCT Eye Scanner is the equivalent of a CAT scan of your eye. Unlike retinal photographs, this new system not only allows us to take a very high-resolution detailed image of your retina but also helps us look below the surface at each layer of the retina to create a High-Definition map that provides us with information never before available. We can even see details in the walls of your blood vessels and tiny individual nerve fibres. This helps us to find the slightest sign of problems such as diabetic eye disease, vascular problems, neavi (moles), glaucoma, macular degeneration, oedema and retinal holes long before they may be visible on the retinal surface and can be seen by standard retinal photography or by looking into your eyes (ophthalmoscopy). The new Spectralis 4D OCT can help us diagnose and monitor all these conditions with the accuracy of one-thousandth of a millimetre. Diagnosing conditions up to 8 years sooner than a standard eye examination. Earlier detection leads to earlier treatment, a better prognosis and, in some cases, the prevention of conditions developing at all.
The Spectralis 4D OCT scan not only helps us detect eye conditions but can sometimes also show signs associated with brain tumours, high cholesterol or uncontrolled blood pressure, thus saving further health problems in the future and may even help prevent a stroke or heart attack.
We recommend Spectralis 4D OCT scanning for all patients as it not only acts as a very thorough assessment of your eye health but also an excellent baseline for future comparison to help diagnose any changes at the earliest signs. Scanning is remarkably advisable for anyone diagnosed with cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetes or with a family history of any of these conditions.
Heidelberg Spectralis 4D Optical Coherence Tomographer eye scanner uses a very safe low-powered imaging laser to accurately measure the thickness of the nerve fibre layer. It is a safe, non-invasive technique and doesn’t use harmful rays like x-rays.
The process requires you to place your chin on a rest, much like many of our other instruments and look at a fixation light. Unlike the standard cameras most opticians use, we get a very sharp, clear image without dilating your pupils and even through cataracts. Each scan takes just a few seconds on each eye. It does not touch your eye and requires no drops, so you can drive straight after your appointment.
After the images have been viewed and assessed, they are stored electronically for your next visit, where referring to the previous images, we can spot even tiny changes (1 micrometre!). This allows for an easier and more accurate method of monitoring the health of the eyes year after year. If necessary, the retinal images can be passed on to GPs or Hospitals for their reference too. Spectralis 4D OCT eye scanning is recommended for all adult patients and can be used at any age if your Optometrist advises.
The 4D Spectralis OCT also has a unique role in macular disease and glaucoma detection.
Book your appointment today on 01634 757227 or click HERE, and we will call you straight back!
- Detects Eye diseases up to 8 years sooner than standard tests.
- Quick, painless
- Detects and monitors Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration, Diabetic eye disease and other eye diseases measuring changes as small as one-thousandth of an mm.
- OCT-a, only available in a few places in the UK, finds diabetic and wet Macular changes early.
