Seeing through optical noise: New method offers sharper way to image the eye

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has become one of the foundations of modern ophthalmology. A patient sits in front of the device and focuses on a target, and moments later the physician can see a detailed cross-section of the retina, layer by layer, without any physical contact with the eye. It is one of the most significant advances in ophthalmology over the past three decades. OCT enables clinicians to detect glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and macular edema before a patient experiences noticeable vision loss.