Use of OCT Imaging in the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Age Related Macular Degeneration

Abstract

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive, high-resolution imaging technique that has been introduced in the clinical practice at the beginning of the last decade. The first application of this method has been recorded in the field of ophthalmology (Osiac et al., 2011). Retinal diseases such as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), central serous chorioretinopathy, macular hole, vitreo-macular interface syndrome and diabetic maculopathy have taken advantage of this relatively new imaging method. Among these, AMD is by far, the ocular condition that has benefited the most from the enormous advantages offered by OCT, in terms of diagnosis, response to treatment and monitoring. Future progress in OCT techniques is expected to improve the knowledge in the pathophysiology of this devastating disease. In order to better understand the role of OCT in the management of AMD, a concise review of the physical principles and mathematical equations that sustain this method is provided. The progress in the OCT techniques over the past decade is emphasized, from Time Domain – OCT (TD-OCT) to Spectral Domain – OCT (SD-OCT) and future directions, with implications in the clinical practice. The comparative contribution of TD-OCT and SD-OCT in the different forms of AMD is revealed. The limits of OCT are presented with their possible solutions. After the description of the theoretical data for OCT interpretation, the impact of OCT in the diagnosis is illustrated with examples of various aspects that AMD can display. The role of OCT in the monitoring of AMD is revealed by the response of the wet form of the disease to the anti-VEGF intravitreal injections.