MORE ACCURATE EYE TEST
Diagnosing problems in a patient's eye can be tricky because doctors can't see all of the layers in the back of the eye. But a new test could change that.
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Janet Tobin thought her vision was fine until she had her annual eye exam.
With Janet's left eye covered, this is what she saw with her right eye.
Janet Tobin
"I wonder, really, what is going on?"
Janet was diagnosed with pre-retinal membrane or a wrinkle over her retina. She would need surgery to fix it, but first, she underwent a new test called optical coherence tomography or OCT.
Dana Deupree, M.D.
Ophthalmologist
The Macula Center
Palm Harbor, FL
"We've never really seen layers of the retina in a real, live human."
Doctor Dana Deupree says the test uses light waves to reveal specific layers of the retina.
Dana Deupree, M.D.
"We can use it to compare and see if our therapy is effective and plan surgical strategies without really creating any discomfort for the patient."
For example, in this scan, it's clear the patient suffers from a macular hole. All of this information is gathered in about 40 seconds with the new scan. It's also easy on the patient.
Janet Tobin
Had new eye scan
"My interpretation of it is there's nothing to it. You put your head up there and one, two, three, it's done."
For Janet, it gave her peace of mind before heading into surgery.
Janet Tobin
"Much more relaxed, and you know, that he knows and is able to know more with this machine."
Today, she is on the road to recovery with her vision improving each day.
Most insurance companies cover the OCT test. Without insurance, the test runs about $100 per eye. The OCT is used to help diagnose and make treatment decisions on any condition that causes changes in the macula.
HOW OCT WORKS: Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a light-based technology that provides cross sectional imagery of the retina. The retina is the multi-layered tissue lining the back of the eye. The OCT test is similar to ultrasound but it uses reflected light instead of sound to image tissue. For the test, a beam of light is directed into tissue and reflections from the different layers are received by a detector. The returning light is compared to a standard reference and allows a computer to reconstruct the underlying tissue. The scan takes about 40 seconds. Doctors say the patient does not feel any discomfort or pain.
RETINA INFORMATION: The retina is about the size of a piece of paper, yet it has 10 distinct layers. In the past, the only way to study these layers was under a microscope after an eye was removed from a cadaver. This is why ophthalmologists are so excited about the OCT test. They say this is the first time they have been able to see the different layers of the retina in a live human being. The OCT test helps in the diagnosis and treatment options for patients with different retina conditions. These conditions include macular holes, pre-retinal membranes, macular swelling and even optic nerve damage. Nerve fiber layer analysis and optic nerve head analysis can be done to diagnose glaucoma. Surgeons are able to see cross-sectional images of the eye in order to know exactly what they are dealing with before the surgery.
BETTER FOR PATIENT: The OCT test is an improvement for the patient because it often saves the patient from having to undergo a fluorescein angiography. Fluorescein angiography is a safe and effective procedure, but it requires the patient's eye to be injected with a dye. Many patients are fearful of needles and others can have a reaction to the dye. The OCT test does not require any injections or dyes. It is a quick and easy test that can also help put the mind of the patient at ease for their treatment decisions. For example, the OCT test can tell a doctor if a treatment is working or if the patient needs surgery.
INSURANCE AND COST: Without insurance, the OCT test costs around $100 an eye. It is covered by Medicare and most insurance companies.
Mark Erickson
The Macular Center
3890 Tampa Rd.
Palm Harbor, FL 34684
(727) 789-8770
mark@maculacenter.com
www.maculacenter.com
Copyright © 2004 Ivanhoe Broadcast News, Inc.
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