Macular Imaging in optical coherence tomography.

Purpose Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a novel noninvasive and noncontact imaging technique providing cross-sectional representations of the eye structures. OCT is analogous to Ultrasound B-scan, except that it analyzes the reflection of a 850 nm light wave. The aim of this study was to assess the potential of ocular coherence tomography for diagnosing and monitoring macular diseases. Methods Cross-sectional images were performed with the Zeiss-Humphrey OCT. Over one year period we examined approximately 300 patients with idiopathic full thickness macular hole, lamellar hole, cystoid macular edema choroidal new vessels, epiretinal membrane, diabetic maculopathy, and central serous chorioretinopathy. Results OCT can provide new information concerning the posterior pole diseases mentioned above. OCT can also be useful in thickness measurements. Conclusion OCT allows tomographic analysis of macular diseases. The information obtained is different from that obtained by histologic study which is sometimes hard to interpret. OCT is mostly useful in studying internal layers of the retina. Further applications may be developed.