OCT and Angio-OCT of the retina and optic nerve in Brovary

What OCT and Angio-OCT show

OCT uses light to build cross-sections of the retina, the macula (the area of sharp central vision) and the optic nerve head. The doctor can see the thickness and structure of tissue that a routine fundus exam cannot show in such detail.

Angio-OCT, or OCT in vascular mode, maps the small vessels of the retina, the choroid and the optic nerve. Unlike fluorescein angiography, it needs no dye injected into a vein. Standard OCT shows tissue structure and Angio-OCT shows the vessels, so the two often complement each other.

At BINOCULAR both scans are done on one device, an RTVue XR Avanti tomograph (Optovue, USA) with the AngioVue module. It sits in our own exam room in Brovary, so you do not have to go to another clinic for the scan, and follow-up images are taken on the same machine for a like-for-like comparison.

When a doctor may recommend OCT

OCT is ordered for a reason, not for everyone by default. These are the most common reasons.

• Central vision has worsened, straight lines look bent, or there is a spot or blur in front of the eye.
• Age-related macular degeneration or other macular changes are suspected.
• Diabetes, for regular checks of the retina.
• Suspected glaucoma, or monitoring the optic nerve during glaucoma treatment.
• Follow-up of the retina after treatment or with a chronic condition.

Angio-OCT is added when the doctor needs to see the vessels themselves, for example with diabetic changes or suspected abnormal vessels in age-related macular degeneration.

With diabetes, have your eyes checked at least once a year, even if your vision seems fine. For glaucoma, OCT is combined with tonometry (from UAH 150) and computerized perimetry (from UAH 350). Read more in our article on when to have your eyes checked (in Ukrainian).

How the scan works

1. You sit in front of the device and rest your head on the support.
2. You look at a target for about a minute while the device scans.
3. The images appear on the screen at once and the doctor reviews them.

The whole procedure takes 5-10 minutes and needs no anesthesia.

Do I need to prepare?

Usually not. Sometimes the doctor dilates the pupils with drops, which takes about 20 minutes. Your vision then stays blurry for a while, so it is best not to drive straight afterwards.

These are the center’s current starting prices. The final cost depends on the scope of the exam and is confirmed before your visit. See all prices on the Prices page and every service on the Services page.

Results and the doctor’s consultation

The images appear on the screen at once and the doctor explains what they show. After the scan you receive a detailed description of the results. Bring it to your next check-up so changes can be compared.

The doctor draws the full picture by reading the scan together with your visual acuity, eye pressure, fundus exam and symptoms. That is why OCT is often combined with a comprehensive eye exam (from UAH 800 for adults, from UAH 600 for children under 18), and you can do both in one visit at one center.

Patients are seen by the head of BINOCULAR, Yaroslava Dobrytsia, an ophthalmologist of the highest category with a Candidate of Medical Sciences degree (PhD in Medicine), and by pediatric ophthalmologist Iryna Sydorenko, who also sees adults. On Sundays children can come in without an appointment. More on the Doctors page.

If your child’s myopia is progressing, the center also offers vision therapy, a course of eye-muscle training and exercises on specialized devices supervised by the doctor.

What to bring

• Previous OCT results and other doctors’ reports.
• A list of the eye drops and medicines you use.
• Your glasses or contact lenses (tell the doctor about lenses).
• A referral, if you have one.
• Sunglasses in case your pupils are dilated.