Optical coherence tomography in the diagnosis and management of uveitis

Abstract

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has become an integral tool in the imaging of numerous diseases of the posterior segment. The diagnostic investigation of infectious and noninfectious uveitic conditions often requires multiple imaging modalities in the appropriate clinical context. Modern OCT technology has proved useful not only in the diagnostic investigation of these conditions, but also in monitoring of their clinical course and therapeutic response. Inflammation-induced changes at the level of the retina, retinal pigment epithelium, and choroid can now easily be identified in these conditions using OCT. Prognostic information on visual acuity outcome can also be estimated based on OCT findings. Numerous OCT findings have been described in the setting of the various uveitides. Although none of these findings appear to be pathognomonic for diagnosis of specific uveitic syndromes, in the appropriate clinical context they can add a great deal of information in the diagnosis and management of uveitis.