Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an established diagnostic method that enables consideration of cross-sections of the inner structure of the tissue, measuring the high-resolution echo time delay of the reflected light and the intensity of the tissue structure. In this way “optical biopsy” of the tissue is achieved without excision and visualization of tissue morphology in real-time, under the control of the examiner.

The equipment used allows the examiner to see the eye fundus using a camcorder. The wavelength of the light beam is approximately 800 ƞm, which means that patients can hardly see this brightness and therefore feel minimal discomfort during the examination.

The recording is done directly, by directing the light beam towards the retina. OCT provides a topographical way of presenting the thickness of the retina and nerve fiber layer which can be directly compared with the finding on the eye fundus!