Perfect eyesight does not necessarily mean your eyes are in perfect health.  In fact, the earliest signs of glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts and some diabetic eye problems are undetectable without a comprehensive eye examination and can cause irreversible damage if left untreated.  The earlier symptoms are identified the easier a condition is to rectify, but the first signs often lie beneath the retina’s surface.

Which is where an OCT eye scan comes in.

At Karen Lockyer Optometrists we’re 100% committed to offering you the very best optical services, so we were among the first practices in London to invest in a Spectralis Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT) machine.

This state-of-the-art scanner works by using light waves to capture incredibly detailed images of the backs of your eyes, but unlike basic retinal scanners, this revolutionary piece of diagnostic equipment builds a cross-section of the layers that lie beneath the surface.

In this way, an advanced 4D scan highlights the smallest symptoms of vision-threatening conditions, allowing our highly qualified optometrists to diagnose and treat any issues before they develop into more serious problems.

Over time, these images enable us build up a comprehensive picture of your visual history, so we can compare previous scans and identify the slightest changes to your retinal health.

For many of our patients, this groundbreaking service gives them absolute peace of mind when it comes to their vision.  Indeed, the technology is so trusted, that there’s even an OCT eye scan machine installed on the International Space Station to keep astronauts’ visual health in check.

Even better, the scan is fast, painless and non-invasive, with no requirement for eye drops. All you have to do is sit in front of the OCT machine, and your eye will be scanned in just a few seconds.

You might be wondering how exactly we can use the feedback from a 4D scan to improve your eye health.

Our OCT machine scans through the layers of tissue behind your retina to reveal any structural abnormalities in the backs of your eyes. Every miniscule detail is captured and displayed on a computer screen so our expert team can analyse each layer and identify the early onset of common conditions such as diabetic eye problems, macular degeneration or the first signs of glaucoma.

The 4D OCT scan can sometimes even show signs associated with brain tumours, high cholesterol or uncontrolled blood pressure, which could help to prevent health problems, strokes and even heart attacks in the future.

This groundbreaking process gives our optometrists unprecedented access to your internal eye health, and helps us suggest treatment options. Indeed, experts predict that 50% of sight loss cases could be avoided by detecting symptoms before they inflict any permanent damage.

More preemptively, if your whole family gets regular OCT scans we’re able to build a comprehensive timeline across many generations and identify genetic problem areas for our team to keep an eye out for as your vision matures.

Here at Karen Lockyer we’re absolutely dedicated to investing in the latest technology to ensure you receive the very best clinical eye care. We’re immensely proud of our Ocular Coherence Tomography capabilities and hope it will help save the vision of many of our patients in the future.

So, if you’d like to achieve peace of mind regarding your and your family’s eye health, book an OCT scan with us today online by clicking here, or by giving us a call on 0203 808 4673.