OCT Angiography, or OCTA, is an advanced imaging technique that produces detailed images of the blood vessels within the retina without the need for an injected dye. It builds on standard OCT technology by detecting the movement of blood cells through vessels, allowing our providers to visualize the retinal and choroidal circulation directly from the light-based scan itself.
How OCTA Differs From Traditional Angiography
Traditional fluorescein angiography requires injecting a dye into a vein and photographing it as it circulates through the eye's blood vessels. OCTA achieves similar visualization of the retinal vasculature using only light waves, with no injection, no dye-related side effects, and no waiting for dye to circulate. The result is a fast, comfortable, dye-free way to examine blood flow in the retina in fine detail.
How OCTA Is Used
This imaging is useful for evaluating conditions that affect the retina's blood supply, such as diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusions, and age-related macular degeneration. It can help our providers identify areas of abnormal blood vessel growth or reduced blood flow, and track how these findings change over time or respond to treatment.
What to Expect
An OCTA scan is quick and non-invasive. You'll be seated at the imaging device and asked to focus on a target while the machine captures the scan, typically taking just a few minutes per eye. There's no discomfort involved, and no recovery time is needed — you can resume your day immediately afterward. Our team will review the images with you and explain any findings as part of your overall eye health evaluation.