Applications of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in neuro-ophthalmology

• Published in: Klinische Monatsblatter fur Augenheilkunde Vol. 230; no. 11; p. 1097
• Main Authors: Kernstock, C, Friebe, K, Tonagel, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: Germany 01-11-2013
• Subjects: Humans; Neurology - methods; Ophthalmology - methods; Ophthalmoscopy - methods; Optic Nerve Diseases - pathology; Retinal Diseases - pathology; Tomography, Optical Coherence - methods
• ISSN: 1439-3999
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1350786

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has revolutionised ophthalmology. Due to modern instruments with extremely high resolution there are more and more applications also in neuro-ophthalmological disorders. This review gives an overview on typical changes in OCT for the following diseases: autosomal dominant optic atrophy, Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, toxic, traumatic and compressive optic neuropathy, optic nerve drusen, anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy, optic disc pit, papilledema, optic neuritis (isolated or associated with multiple sclerosis or neuromyelitis optica), neurodegenerative diseases and hereditary retinal diseases. A diagnosis exclusively based on an OCT examination is not always possible, but in several diseases there are pathognomonic changes that directly lead to the correct diagnosis. Particularly with the often complex settings in neuro-ophtalmology the OCT should be seen as a supplementary modality and not as a replacement for other techniques.