Clinical applications of optical coherence tomography in the posterior pole: the 2011 José Manuel Espino Lecture - Part I

J Fernando Arevalo,^1,2 Andres F Lasave,³ Juan D Arias,³ Martin A Serrano,³ Fernando A Arevalo<sup>3

1</sup>Retina Division, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; ²Vitreoretinal Division, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; ³Retina and Vitreous Service, Clinica Oftalmologica Centro Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela

Abstract: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is now a standard of care in ophthalmology and is considered essential for the diagnosis and monitoring of many retinal diseases. One of the major advances obtained with OCT was the understanding of the pathophysiology of macular holes. Non-full-thickness macular holes have been revisited because high-resolution OCT images can detect a lamellar macular defect that is not always visible clinically, and surgery has been advocated by some authors. OCT can be valuable in determining the need for and/or timing of surgical intervention on epiretinal membranes or vitreomacular traction syndrome. In addition, we can use this technology as a predictive factor in the prognosis and follow-up of the most common posterior pole pathologies.

Keywords: clinical applications, OCT, optical coherence tomography, posterior pole, retinal diseases, spectral domain