29/07/2026
OCT and fundus photography answer different questions.
A fundus image gives a clear view of the retina and optic nerve head. It can show visible signs such as haemorrhages, drusen, pigmentation changes, vessel changes, and suspicious optic disc appearance.
OCT adds something different.
It shows the retinal layers and structural changes that may not be obvious from a colour image alone. Fluid, thinning, thickening, subtle macular changes, and glaucomatous structural loss can often be understood better when reviewing the scan beneath the surface.
For optometrists and ophthalmologists, the strength is not in choosing one over the other. It is in knowing what each modality contributes.
Fundus photography helps document what can be seen. OCT helps explain what is happening in the tissue.
When combined with symptoms, visual acuity, IOP, history, and clinical judgement, the two can give a much clearer basis for follow-up or referral.
AI-supported analysis can help structure that review, but the clinical value still depends on asking the right question:
What are we looking at and what might we be missing if we only use one image type?