Spectral OCT and widefield angiography touted as imaging advancements

Las Vegas — Widefield angiography and spectral optical coherence tomography were touted by one ophthalmologist as great advances in retinal imaging here at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.

"[Widefield angiography] does seem to be ... a good tool to achieve better assessment of peripheral fundus perfusion in diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion," said Carmen A. Puliafito, MD, MBA, although he noted it is a "work in progress" that shows promise for analyzing a larger portion of the retina.

Using the imaging technique, retinal specialists can view an entire sector and enlarge specific areas to see them in greater detail, he said.

Spectral optical coherence tomography is also a "fantastically important tool going forward," he added.

The technology allows for faster scanning of a larger area with more precise registration. The resulting image can be segmented for further analysis, giving the surgeon the ability to return to the same area postoperatively for comparison. It can also be viewed as a three-dimensional image for quantifying retinal volume, Dr. Puliafito said.