Short answer
Retinal OCT is a cross-sectional scan of the macula and optic nerve before refractive or lens surgery — it detects silent macular disease that refraction cannot see. Normal OCT does not guarantee surgery approval, but abnormal OCT may pause planning until a retinal specialist clears you.
What does this scan measure?
Spectral-domain OCT builds micron-resolution layers of the retina — macula, vitreomacular interface, and nerve fibre layer.
What happens during the test
You fixate on a target; the scan completes in seconds without touching the eye. Dilation may be used depending on clinic protocol.
Why it matters before surgery
- ✓Macular hole or ERM detection — refractive surgery will not fix retinal pathology.
- •High myopia screening — lattice and macular schisis risk assessment.
- •Diabetic retinopathy flag — surgery timing coordinated with retinal status.
What it cannot tell you alone
OCT views the back of the eye only — corneal decisions still need Pentacam and refraction.
Procedures that use this platform
Technology serves the procedure — your surgeon assigns platform after scans, not before enquiry. These are the treatment pages where this device typically appears in your written plan.
Related conditions: Cataracts, Myopia
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