Interpreting OCT

Associate Optometric Editor Katherine M. Mastrota, OD, shares pearls from “Reading Between the Lines: CT Interpretation” lecture at the 90th annual SECO International meeting in Atlanta:

Mohammad Rafieetary, OD, FAAO, at the Charles Retina Institute in Memphis, discussed the basic principals of OCT. OCT, in essence, is an optical biopsy of tissue, he said. The resolution of OCT images has become more refined with the development of spectral domain technology.

Focusing on the interpretation of OCT line studies, Dr. Rafieetary suggests viewing the monochrome (white-on-black or black-on-white) images as opposed to the color-assigned image. He pointed out that OCT can be utilized to evaluate areas throughout the retina, not only the macula and optic nerve head.

Dr. Rafieetary also reviewed posterior segment pathology from the vitreous through to the choroid in an excellent primer for OCT utilization in optometric practice.