OCT angiography (OCT-A) is an imaging method that visualises blood flow in retinal and choroidal vessels without the need for dye injection. It derives flow information from motion contrast between repeated OCT scans.
Clinical applications
OCT-A can demonstrate abnormal new vessels in conditions such as age-related macular degeneration and some diabetic retinopathy. It is also useful in macular telangiectasia and other microvascular diseases of the posterior pole.
- Non-invasive and suitable for frequent monitoring
- Provides depth-resolved images of different vascular layers
- Does not directly show leakage, unlike fluorescein angiography
- Image quality can be reduced by eye movement or media opacity
