Diagnostic test for cornea, retina, and glaucoma

20/04/2015

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a complementary test with which images are obtained of the tissue to be studied using light as a source of energy. With this technique, we can obtain images very similar to histology sections and analyse the internal characteristics of the part of the eye we wish to study. In order to perform the OCT correctly, light must enter freely. Therefore, intraocular opacities (advanced cataracts, haemorrhages, corneal opacities) impede the correct performance of the test. OCT has basically three areas of clinical ocular application: cornea, glaucoma and retina.

Three areas of application

In corneal applications, among others, it is useful for measuring its thickness and determining the safety margins of refractive surgery.

In the case of retinal applications, these are varied:

• Vitreomacular interface – internal retina. It allows us to visualise, on a high-resolution image, the existence of tractional processes between the vitreous gel and the retina in pathologies such as diabetic retinopathy or high myopia (Figure 1). Likewise, it enables the diagnosis, without margin for error, of other pathologies such as epiretinal membranes or macular hole. OCT is not just a diagnostic aid; it is also very useful for monitoring evolution after the medical or surgical treatment applied.
• Retina – choroid. The usefulness of this diagnostic technique has revolutionised the clinical evolution of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and allows us to assess with greater precision the need to continue treating with intravitreous injections (Figure 2).
• Glaucoma is a progressive neuropathy, in which the head of the optic nerve (papilla) becomes altered, resulting in the destruction of retinal nerve fibres.

What does OCT allow us to study? (Figure 3 and 4)

In the optic nerve, it allows the measurement of:

• The width and areas of the neuroretinal rim of the papilla, in the different meridians.
• The size of the optic cup and disk.
• The relationship existing between the optic cup and disk.

In patients with glaucoma, there is a narrowing of the neuroretinal rim as the cup becomes enlarged and the cup-to-disk ratio increases.

In the retinal fibre layer, we can measure the thickness of the nerve fibre layer. In patients with incipient glaucoma, a decrease in said layer can be observed, particularly in the lower and upper quadrants.

In the retinal ganglion cell complex, OCT-Cirrus provides allows accurate measurement thereof in the macula (a decrease in said cells is characteristic of glaucoma).

OCT is a tool for diagnosing incipient glaucoma when there are, as yet, no alterations in the visual field; it also allows us to assess progression and response to the treatment.