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OCT valued in many subspecialties, especially for follow-up
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CANCUN, Mexico — Optical coherence tomography technologies are increasingly being utilized by ophthalmologists in many subspecialties, ranging from retina to glaucoma and even oncology, according to several surgeons speaking here.
"Patients will be helped," said J. Fernando Arévalo, MD, at the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology meeting.
Dr. Arévalo pointed to the repeatability, accuracy and "intuitive" retinal maps produced by optical coherence tomography (OCT) as tools that help him to classify, diagnose and differentiate among different macular edemas in his patients.
Javier Elizalde, MD, said OCT helps him work with macular holes and epiretinal membranes. "OCT allowed us to understand the macula better," he said, noting that it allows for the determination of a macular hole.
Francisco José Rodriguez, MD, added that OCT provided better images of drusen, geographic atrophy, retinal detachments, lesions and scars in patients with age-related macular degeneration.
OCT images may also allow for the earlier detection of glaucoma, noted José A. Pitarque, MD.
"Structural damage comes before visual field damage," he said. "There has to be an early diagnosis."
Although objective evaluation is difficult in glaucoma, Dr. Pitarque said OCT offers the recommended routine imaging.
Lastly, Miguel A. Materin, MD, said that OCT can be beneficial for imaging ocular tumors, particularly for evaluating bilateral lesions, blockages and changes in the choroid.
"It is useful," Dr. Materin said. "This is something that can help me."