Cutting-edge eye technology comes to Plymouth city centre

Iconic Opticians, based in Cornwall Street, have invested in an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) machine which allows a very detailed view of the eye through 3D scanning technology.

Iconic Opticians’ optometrist Rupinder Gill explains: “This technology scans the different layers of the back of the eye. This allows us to examine the structure of the retina and the optic nerve in much greater detail compared to traditional retinal photography which only captures a simple picture of the retina.

‘OCT is used by hospitals to diagnose and manage an array of eye conditions such as glaucoma, diabetes, vitreous detachments and age-related macular degeneration. Having it in store means that we can identify any symptoms or potential eye complications at an early stage during routine eye tests. We are then able to make an informed decision about whether or not to refer the patient to hospital for treatment.

‘As these images are securely saved in patient records, it also allows us to monitor our patients’ eye health overtime and proactively spot any changes.”

The scan, which is offered in addition to a thorough eye examination, only takes a few minutes. The technology uses a laser light source, making the scan totally safe, painless and contactless. The scan is available to people of all ages.

Dinesh Thirupuvanarajah, dispensing optician and owner of Iconic Opticians sees this investment as another step towards the ongoing regeneration of the West End area. “Since we first opened our doors in 2015, our mission has always been to contribute to improving the eye health of people in Plymouth - and this new sophisticated technology is a big step towards this. In the past 8 weeks, we’ve already done 50 OCT scans, with 2 referrals to Derriford.”