OCT 3D Scan

Discover eye conditions several years early with an OCT 3D scan, which provides a detailed understanding of how healthy your eyes are. Read on to find out more about the benefits of OCT 3D scan.

What is an OCT 3D eye scan?

OCT stands for Optical Coherence Tomography, a method in which we can get a clearer picture and a better understanding of how healthy your eyes are. It’s a quick, non-invasive scan performed in your health screening that occurs just before your eye test.

Whereas standard digital retinal photography allows us to see the surface of the back of your eye, the OCT scanner gives us a detailed 3D image of the inside of your eye, including its retina and layers.

The OCT 3D images provides a cross sectional view of the inner anatomy of your eyes, specifically the retinas, to provide a deeper analysis of your eye health going into the eye test. Whilst we perform digital retinal photography in all eye tests to help identify any underlying conditions, the imagery produced by the 3D scan can help us detect more serious eye conditions several years early.

How does the 3D scan work?

The OCT 3D scan works like an ultrasound. However, rather than using sound waves, it uses light waves to see the detailed layers of the retina. The retina is at the back of the eye. It converts light into images, which allows you to see.

The OCT machine takes over 1,000 images of your eye, from the retina to the optic nerve. This then creates a detailed 3D image, which lets us see your eye's structure.

Benefits of an OCT 3D scan

There are many benefits to having an OCT 3D scan. Just like regular retinal photography, it is non-invasive, completely painless procedure. It only takes just a few seconds and costs just €10 on top of your standard eye test.

The main benefit to having an OCT 3D scan is that it can diagnose eye conditions and diseases earlier than other eye examinations, including those with no symptoms.

The 3D images lets us see even subtle changes in your eyes, including the vitreous, retina, macula and the optic nerve. Many of the issues the OCT 3D scan detect form at the back of the eye.

You can find out more about conditions the 3D scan can identify below:

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is the name given to a group of eye conditions which affect the optic nerve, as it joins the back of the eye. The optic nerve passes information like brightness, colour and contrast, from your eye to your brain.

Most types of glaucoma have no symptoms, so a regular eye test is the only way to know you have the condition. The OCT scan can detect glaucoma 4 years earlier than other eye tests.

Find out more

Aged macular degeneration

Diabetes

People with diabetes can experience a range of eye conditions, including diabetic retinopathy which damages the retina. In severe cases it can also cause loss of sight.

There are many different types of diabetic retinopathy. The OCT scan lets us see the slightest change in your retina, helping us to diagnose diabetic retinopathy early.

Some cases of this condition cannot be diagnosed with a normal eye test. Diabetic eye screenings are designed for people with diabetes, giving us a wider view of the retina.

Find out more

Detached retina

A detached retina happens when the thin layer at the back of your eye becomes loose. Symptoms of this include:

Blurred vision
Flashes of light
A sudden increase of floaters in your eye
A dark curtain moving across your field of vision.

If this isn’t treated quickly, it can permanently affect your sight. If you suspect you have a detached retina, you should see your optometrist or doctor right away.

Macular hole

Optic nerve inflammation

Retinal vein occlusion

You can see our eye health page for more information on eye conditions and symptoms. If you are concerned about your eye health, you can talk to us in store, where we can give you a standard eye test or OCT.

The 3D scan is €10 on top of the cost of a standard eye test. To see if your local Vison Express offers an OCT scan, you can use the store list below.