Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and photography clinic with virtual review

Why have I been sent to this clinic?

The hospital has received a referral from your Optician, your GP or the diabetic screening program asking for further investigations of your eye. A retinal photograph and OCT (see below for information) has been requested to further investigate the conditions mentioned in the referral. The photograph and OCT scan will quickly allow the clinician reviewing your virtual clinic encounter to assess the back of your eye and decide if you need any treatment and if/when you need to be seen again.

We also use this clinic to see follow up patients where we have determined that a virtual clinic is suitable for their clinical needs.

What is optical coherence tomography (OCT)?

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging test, a lot like a photograph, which is widely used in the field of ophthalmology. It is used for the diagnosis and ongoing treatment of several ophthalmic conditions.

The OCT scan provides the ophthalmologist with a high resolution, cross-sectional image of the ocular tissues at the back of the eye. This information enables the ophthalmologist to evaluate the eye in order to make management and treatment decisions.

The scanning technique uses light waves to achieve high resolution pictures which the ophthalmologist can review at a later date.

Why would I need these tests?

Your Optician, GP or diabetic eye screening service has seen changes or suspects changes in the retina at the back of the eye or we are following up things already seen on the retina. This diagram shows the basic structure of the eye and where the retina is in the eye.

What can you see with OCT?

OCT imaging can be particularly useful in detecting and monitoring multiple macula conditions such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular oedema. This technology allows us to explore treatment options more efficiently and effectively.

This virtual clinic aims to ensure that those who do need treatment are prioritised and seen as quickly as possible.

What happens in clinic?

You are advised not to drive to your appointment as you may have dilating drops, which are required to obtain the best scan possible.

On arrival, you will have your vision checked. Please bring your current glasses, or any contact lenses you may wear to use in this test.

A specialist allied healthcare professional will guide you through the appointment and the medical photographer or photography support will explain the scanning procedure.

You will NOT see a doctor. After the photograph and scan you will be free to go home.

What happens next?

A clinician will review the OCT scan following the virtual OCT clinic. The consultant may want other ophthalmic tests done, to define the diagnosis, which will be performed at another appointment. The clinician will make a clinical decision for the next stage of your clinical pathway, for example treatment or a future review, and you will receive notification of this by letter or telephone.

How long will I have to wait before I hear about a follow-up appointment?

This will depend on the outcome of the OCT scan. If the OCT scan and photos cannot fully diagnose the condition or if it shows significant abnormalities, you will normally be called for another appointment in between one and four weeks’ time. If not, you will be seen more routinely. If no abnormality is detected, you may be discharged. You will be notified of the outcome by letter most of the time. You may receive a telephone call from the booking team or the ophthalmology clinical team.

If you notice a deterioration in your vision while you are waiting for an appointment, please contact us below:

Emergency contact telephone number

Emergency eye clinic:

You can call the emergency eye clinic Monday to Friday 08:30 to 16:00 on 01223 217778.

(Leave a message with your name, date of birth and hospital number, and a brief description of your concern, and one of the nurses will call you back.)

You can call the Out-of-hours main hospital switchboard on 01223 245151 and ask for the on-call ophthalmologist.

Additional ophthalmology contact telephone numbers:

You can call the AMD clinic coordinator on 01223 254662.

You can call the Medical retina specialist nurse 01223 256672.

You can call the Clinic 14 reception desk 01223 216401.

Consent

Although you consent to this treatment, you may at any time after that, withdraw such consent. Please discuss this with your medical team.

Further information

The organisations below can provide more information and support for you. Please note that Addenbrooke’s Hospital is not responsible for the quality or accuracy of any information or advice provided by these organisations:

• Macular Society

Crown Chambers, South St, Andover, Hampshire SP10 2BN

Call the Helpline on 0300 3030 111 or email macular society help.

Call General enquiries on 01264 350551 or email macular society info

Click here for the macular society website (opens in a new tab)

• Diabetic Retinopathy Organisation

Dr David Kinshuck, Good Hope Diabetic Clinic.

Click here for the Diabetic Retinopathy Organisation website (opens in a new tab)

• National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

MidCity Place, 71 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6NA

Call the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on 0845 003 7780

Click here for the NICE website (opens in a new tab)

References / Sources of evidence

Blausen.com staff (2014). "Medical gallery of Blausen Medical 2014 (opens in a new tab)". WikiJournal of Medicine 1 (2). DOI (opens in a new tab):10.15347/wjm/2014.010 (opens in a new tab). ISSN (opens in a new tab) 2002-4436 (opens in a new tab).

Jackson, T.L., 2014. Moorfields Manual of Ophthalmology. 2nd ed. London: JP Medical Ltd.

Macular Society, 2020. Understanding macular disease. [online]

Available at: https://www.macularsociety.org/age-related-macular-degeneration (opens in a new tab) [accessed 02.10.2020]

Privacy & Dignity

Same sex bays and bathrooms are offered in all wards except critical care and theatre recovery areas where the use of high-tech equipment and/or specialist one-to-one care is required.