Macular region
Patients in whom the ophthalmologist needs to clarify the vascular component of retinal, macular or peripapillary abnormalities or monitor known disease over time.
About the service
OCT angiography images ocular vascular structures without injected contrast dye. It complements other tests, with interpretation taking scan quality and method limitations into account.
Who the service is for
Diseases / risk groups
When indicated: neovascular AMD and other macular neovascularization, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular occlusions, myopic neovascularization, selected vascular/inflammatory disorders and adjunct assessment in glaucoma.
Restrictions;
Quality may fall with poor fixation, motion, nystagmus, cataract or other media opacity, hemorrhage, marked edema or distorted anatomy. Motion, projection, segmentation and shadowing artifacts can occur; very slow flow can fall below the detection threshold.
Food and drink before testing
A special diet or fasting is usually unnecessary for OCT angiography itself because no intravenous dye is injected.
Keeping the gaze fixed
During scanning, you need to fixate on a target for several seconds and avoid blinking when possible. Poor fixation can reduce image quality and create artifacts.
Contact lenses
Contact lenses are not usually a primary limitation for OCTA, but removal may be requested if other diagnostic tests are performed during the same visit.
Symptoms / complaints
Reduced central vision, distortion of straight lines, a central spot, new visual distortion or a change in a known disease may prompt an examination. These symptoms are not automatic indications specifically for OCTA; the physician selects the method.
Interpreting results
Vessel density, perfusion density and other automated metrics depend on manufacturer, algorithm, scan area and image quality. Values from different platforms are not fully interchangeable.
Assessment before choosing treatment
The device and software color maps do not make a diagnosis by themselves. A physician interprets the result in the context of examination, structural OCT and other tests.
How the doctor interprets an OCTA map
A red, dark or absent area on a map does not automatically equal disease. It can reflect true pathology, shadowing, motion, segmentation error or flow below the system detection threshold.
OCTA does not show vascular leakage
OCTA does not show vascular leakage. When leakage and filling phases are clinically important, FA may be indicated.
Optic nerve
In glaucoma, OCTA does not replace tonometry, optic nerve head assessment, RNFL/GCC analysis, visual field testing, gonioscopy when indicated or comprehensive ophthalmic interpretation.
Preparation
No intravenous contrast injection is needed. Bring previous images and treatment information. The team will tell you whether pupil dilation is required.
Assessment before choosing treatment
Pupil dilation is not always technically required for OCTA. The decision depends on pupil size, signal quality, examination purpose and the physician’s assessment.
Results and documents
Bring previous OCT/OCTA images, ophthalmology reports and discharge summaries. If you are receiving retinal treatment , provide dates of intravitreal injections, including anti-VEGF therapy.
When urgent care is needed
Sudden vision loss , a new curtain-like shadow, a marked increase in floaters/flashes, severe pain, trauma or intense redness requires urgent clinical assessment rather than only a routine OCTA appointment. Sudden vision loss, a curtain-like defect, many new floaters or flashes, severe pain, trauma, marked redness or rapid deterioration requires urgent clinical evaluation.
Assessment before choosing treatment
OCTA may be only one part of that work-up.
Limitations and safety
The device and software color maps do not make a diagnosis by themselves. A physician interprets the result in the context of examination, structural OCT and other tests.
Book a consultation
Stages
Stage 1
Examination goal
The physician clarifies symptoms, diagnosis and the purpose of imaging, such as detecting/monitoring macular neovascularization, assessing diabetic capillary changes or comparing findings after treatment.
Takes: 1 min
Stage 2
Preparation for scanning
The patient is seated at the tomograph with chin and forehead supported.
Takes: 1 min
Stage 3
Repeated scan acquisition
The patient fixates on the target.
Takes: 1 min
Stage 4
Quality control
Signal, fixation and visible artifacts are reviewed.
Takes: 1 min
Stage 5
Physician interpretation
The physician correlates en face maps with flow overlay on B-scans, checks segmentation and compares the result with structural OCT, prior studies and the clinical examination.
Takes: 5 min
Service benefits
A map of small blood vessels
OCT angiography helps assess vascular networks in selected retinal layers and other accessible areas.
No intravenous dye
OCT angiography shows vascular networks without fluorescein injection, supporting repeat monitoring when needed.
Linking vessels with tissue structure
Vascular maps are compared with OCT cross-sections to locate changes within the tissues.
Tracking changes over time
Comparable repeat examinations reveal changes and help assess prescribed treatment.
Expanded comparison of OCTA, structural OCT and fluorescein angiography
Criterion
OCT angiography (OCTA)
Structural OCT
Fluorescein angiography (FA)
Principle
Repeated OCT scans detect optical-signal changes associated with moving blood cells and generate en face and B-scan vascular flow-signal maps.
Builds cross-sectional and layer-resolved tissue images from reflected optical signal and shows retinal, optic nerve head and other structural morphology.
After intravenous fluorescein injection, serial fundus images record dye passage through retinal vessels.
Primary information
Vascular architecture and presence of detectable flow signal within selected segmented slabs.
Tissue morphology: thickness, contour, fluid, edema, atrophy, traction and other structural changes.
Dye filling dynamics, hypo-/hyperfluorescence, leakage, staining and pooling.
Depth-resolved vascular plexuses
Yes. Superficial, deep retinal plexuses and choriocapillaris can be displayed within device and segmentation limits.
No OCTA flow map, although structural B-scans provide the anatomic basis for slab segmentation.
Conventional FA is essentially two-dimensional, with signals from different depths superimposed.
Intravenous dye
Not required.
Not required.
Fluorescein dye is required.
Vascular leakage
Does not show dye leakage.
May show consequences such as intra- or subretinal fluid, but not fluorescein leakage itself.
Shows leakage and its time course.
Vascular filling dynamics
Not equivalent to phase angiography and does not track dye transit over time.
Does not evaluate vascular filling.
Yes. Early and late phases demonstrate filling and leakage patterns.
FAZ and macular capillary network
Can assess FAZ shape/area and capillary network when image quality and segmentation are adequate.
Does not provide a vascular FAZ map.
The FAZ is visible, but detail and interpretation differ; leakage can make its boundaries difficult to identify.
Vessel / perfusion density
May be calculated by device software. Values depend on platform, algorithm, scan size, segmentation and quality; metrics from different systems are not automatically interchangeable.
Not a standard structural OCT metric.
Not a direct equivalent of OCTA vessel density.
Neovascular network
Can depict network morphology when flow is detectable and segmentation is correct.
Can show related structural signs such as PED, subretinal material and fluid.
Can characterize angiographic activity, including leakage patterns.
Reduced flow-signal / nonperfusion areas
Can demonstrate reduced or absent detectable signal, but artifact and flow below the detection threshold must be excluded.
Does not create a perfusion map.
Can assess nonperfusion through dye filling patterns.
Hemorrhage
Hemorrhage itself is not a flow signal and may attenuate the OCT beam, producing shadowing and apparent flow voids.
May show structural effects depending on location and image quality.
Blood can block fluorescence and alter angiographic appearance.
Edema / fluid
Not judged from the OCTA map alone; evaluated on the simultaneously acquired structural OCT.
Key method for intra-/subretinal fluid and retinal thickness.
Leakage may indicate activity, but fluid is usually quantified using OCT.
Motion artifact
Important limitation. Eye motion or poor fixation can create lines, vessel breaks, stretching or duplication.
Motion also degrades quality, but OCTA is particularly sensitive because it relies on repeated scans.
Blinking and motion affect image series, but artifact patterns differ.
Projection artifact
Specific OCTA limitation: superficial vessel patterns may project into deeper slabs; correction algorithms and physician review are required.
Not applicable as an OCTA vascular projection artifact.
Not the typical OCTA projection phenomenon.
Segmentation error
Major limitation, especially with edema, PED, atrophy, high myopia or distorted anatomy. Automated boundaries must be checked.
Segmentation errors can also alter thickness and structural maps.
Layer segmentation is not the core principle of standard FA.
Very slow blood flow
Flow below the system detection threshold may be missed; absence of signal does not prove absence of circulation.
Does not measure flow velocity.
Dye may provide different filling information, though FA also has limitations.
Media opacity
Cataract, corneal opacity, hemorrhage and dense vitreous opacity can attenuate signal and create false flow voids.
Also reduces structural image quality.
Can block fluorescence or reduce fundus image quality.
Repeat examinations
Well suited to serial monitoring because no intravenous dye is used; use the same protocol/platform when possible.
Well suited to frequent structural follow-up.
Repeat studies are possible when clinically indicated but require another dye injection.
Systemic dye-related risk
Absent because no intravenous contrast is administered.
Absent.
Dye-related adverse effects are possible and must be considered clinically.
Pupil dilation
Not always technically necessary; depends on pupil size, signal quality, protocol and accompanying examination.
Not always required; depends on task and protocol.
Often performed as part of the angiographic work-up; local protocol should be confirmed.
Impact on management
Helps characterize vascular involvement, neovascular morphology and treatment-related change when interpreted with examination and structural OCT.
Shows anatomic activity, fluid and structure, often central to follow-up decisions.
Particularly useful when leakage, filling phases or equivocal OCTA findings must be clarified.
What the physician receives
En face OCTA maps, flow overlay on B-scans, segmented slabs and, where available, quantitative indices.
B-scans, thickness maps and structural protocols.
A time-sequenced angiographic image series after dye injection.
KazRIED price
Price from 6 400 ₸
Cost determined after consultation
Price from 68 500 ₸
OCT angiography (OCTA)
Principle
Primary information
Depth-resolved vascular plexuses
Intravenous dye
Vascular leakage
Vascular filling dynamics
FAZ and macular capillary network
Vessel / perfusion density
Neovascular network
Reduced flow-signal / nonperfusion areas
Hemorrhage
Edema / fluid
Motion artifact
Projection artifact
Segmentation error
Very slow blood flow
Media opacity
Repeat examinations
Systemic dye-related risk
Pupil dilation
Impact on management
What the physician receives
KazRIED price
Repeated OCT scans detect optical-signal changes associated with moving blood cells and generate en face and B-scan vascular flow-signal maps.
Vascular architecture and presence of detectable flow signal within selected segmented slabs.
Yes. Superficial, deep retinal plexuses and choriocapillaris can be displayed within device and segmentation limits.
Not required.
Does not show dye leakage.
Not equivalent to phase angiography and does not track dye transit over time.
Can assess FAZ shape/area and capillary network when image quality and segmentation are adequate.
May be calculated by device software. Values depend on platform, algorithm, scan size, segmentation and quality; metrics from different systems are not automatically interchangeable.
Can depict network morphology when flow is detectable and segmentation is correct.
Can demonstrate reduced or absent detectable signal, but artifact and flow below the detection threshold must be excluded.
Hemorrhage itself is not a flow signal and may attenuate the OCT beam, producing shadowing and apparent flow voids.
Not judged from the OCTA map alone; evaluated on the simultaneously acquired structural OCT.
Important limitation. Eye motion or poor fixation can create lines, vessel breaks, stretching or duplication.
Specific OCTA limitation: superficial vessel patterns may project into deeper slabs; correction algorithms and physician review are required.
Major limitation, especially with edema, PED, atrophy, high myopia or distorted anatomy. Automated boundaries must be checked.
Flow below the system detection threshold may be missed; absence of signal does not prove absence of circulation.
Cataract, corneal opacity, hemorrhage and dense vitreous opacity can attenuate signal and create false flow voids.
Well suited to serial monitoring because no intravenous dye is used; use the same protocol/platform when possible.
Absent because no intravenous contrast is administered.
Not always technically necessary; depends on pupil size, signal quality, protocol and accompanying examination.
Helps characterize vascular involvement, neovascular morphology and treatment-related change when interpreted with examination and structural OCT.
En face OCTA maps, flow overlay on B-scans, segmented slabs and, where available, quantitative indices.
Price from 6 400 ₸
Builds cross-sectional and layer-resolved tissue images from reflected optical signal and shows retinal, optic nerve head and other structural morphology.
Tissue morphology: thickness, contour, fluid, edema, atrophy, traction and other structural changes.
No OCTA flow map, although structural B-scans provide the anatomic basis for slab segmentation.
Not required.
May show consequences such as intra- or subretinal fluid, but not fluorescein leakage itself.
Does not evaluate vascular filling.
Does not provide a vascular FAZ map.
Not a standard structural OCT metric.
Can show related structural signs such as PED, subretinal material and fluid.
Does not create a perfusion map.
May show structural effects depending on location and image quality.
Key method for intra-/subretinal fluid and retinal thickness.
Motion also degrades quality, but OCTA is particularly sensitive because it relies on repeated scans.
Not applicable as an OCTA vascular projection artifact.
Segmentation errors can also alter thickness and structural maps.
Does not measure flow velocity.
Also reduces structural image quality.
Well suited to frequent structural follow-up.
Absent.
Not always required; depends on task and protocol.
Shows anatomic activity, fluid and structure, often central to follow-up decisions.
B-scans, thickness maps and structural protocols.
Cost determined after consultation
After intravenous fluorescein injection, serial fundus images record dye passage through retinal vessels.
Dye filling dynamics, hypo-/hyperfluorescence, leakage, staining and pooling.
Conventional FA is essentially two-dimensional, with signals from different depths superimposed.
Fluorescein dye is required.
Shows leakage and its time course.
Yes. Early and late phases demonstrate filling and leakage patterns.
The FAZ is visible, but detail and interpretation differ; leakage can make its boundaries difficult to identify.
Not a direct equivalent of OCTA vessel density.
Can characterize angiographic activity, including leakage patterns.
Can assess nonperfusion through dye filling patterns.
Blood can block fluorescence and alter angiographic appearance.
Leakage may indicate activity, but fluid is usually quantified using OCT.
Blinking and motion affect image series, but artifact patterns differ.
Not the typical OCTA projection phenomenon.
Layer segmentation is not the core principle of standard FA.
Dye may provide different filling information, though FA also has limitations.
Can block fluorescence or reduce fundus image quality.
Repeat studies are possible when clinically indicated but require another dye injection.
Dye-related adverse effects are possible and must be considered clinically.
Often performed as part of the angiographic work-up; local protocol should be confirmed.
Particularly useful when leakage, filling phases or equivocal OCTA findings must be clarified.
A time-sequenced angiographic image series after dye injection.
Price from 68 500 ₸
How the methods complement each other in clinical scenarios
Clinical Situation
The Role of OCT-A
The Role of Structural OCT
When FA (Fluorescein Angiography) is Particularly Useful
Neovascular AMD / macular neovascularization
Displays the vascular network and its morphology with registered flow; can be used for monitoring changes over time.
Evaluates fluid, PED (pigment epithelium detachment), subretinal material, and other signs of activity.
When evaluation of leakage, staining patterns, or ambiguous OCTA findings is required.
Diabetic retinopathy
Helps evaluate the capillary network, FAZ, areas of reduced flow signal, and neovascularization within the scan area.
Evaluates macular edema and structural changes.
For assessing leakage, a broader vascular picture, and per clinical indications.
Retinal vein/artery occlusions
Helps map capillary perfusion and areas absent of flow signal in the available field.
Shows edema, thickness, and the consequences of a vascular event.
When it is necessary to assess filling dynamics, leakage, and peripheral ischemia.
Glaucoma
Can provide additional information on the peripapillary and macular microvascular networks; is not a standalone test for glaucoma.
RNFL/GCC and optic nerve head (ONH) structure remain an important part of a comprehensive assessment.
Is typically not a routine test for diagnosing glaucoma.
Post-anti-VEGF monitoring
Allows comparison of the vascular network using the same protocol, taking into account flow signal changes and artifacts.
The dynamics of fluid and structural signs of activity are of key importance.
As indicated, if clinical examination and OCT/OCTA are insufficient.
Suspicion of vascular leakage
Does not directly answer the question of vascular leakage.
Shows the presence of fluid as a structural sign.
The method of choice if the physician needs to directly assess fluorescent leakage.
Questionable "dark zone" on OCTA
Requires checking the B-scan, segmentation, shadowing, motion, and the possibility of very slow blood flow.
Helps determine if there is a structural cause for shadowing or incorrect segmentation.
May be required to clarify perfusion/filling if the question remains clinically significant.
The Role of OCT-A
Neovascular AMD / macular neovascularization
Diabetic retinopathy
Retinal vein/artery occlusions
Glaucoma
Post-anti-VEGF monitoring
Suspicion of vascular leakage
Questionable "dark zone" on OCTA
Displays the vascular network and its morphology with registered flow; can be used for monitoring changes over time.
Helps evaluate the capillary network, FAZ, areas of reduced flow signal, and neovascularization within the scan area.
Helps map capillary perfusion and areas absent of flow signal in the available field.
Can provide additional information on the peripapillary and macular microvascular networks; is not a standalone test for glaucoma.
Allows comparison of the vascular network using the same protocol, taking into account flow signal changes and artifacts.
Does not directly answer the question of vascular leakage.
Requires checking the B-scan, segmentation, shadowing, motion, and the possibility of very slow blood flow.
Evaluates fluid, PED (pigment epithelium detachment), subretinal material, and other signs of activity.
Evaluates macular edema and structural changes.
Shows edema, thickness, and the consequences of a vascular event.
RNFL/GCC and optic nerve head (ONH) structure remain an important part of a comprehensive assessment.
The dynamics of fluid and structural signs of activity are of key importance.
Shows the presence of fluid as a structural sign.
Helps determine if there is a structural cause for shadowing or incorrect segmentation.
When evaluation of leakage, staining patterns, or ambiguous OCTA findings is required.
For assessing leakage, a broader vascular picture, and per clinical indications.
When it is necessary to assess filling dynamics, leakage, and peripheral ischemia.
Is typically not a routine test for diagnosing glaucoma.
As indicated, if clinical examination and OCT/OCTA are insufficient.
The method of choice if the physician needs to directly assess fluorescent leakage.
May be required to clarify perfusion/filling if the question remains clinically significant.
Book an appointment
If the physician needs to assess the retinal or macular vascular network without intravenous dye, OCTA may be part of the diagnostic pathway. When booking, confirm the branch, current price and whether a specialist ophthalmologist consultation is required before or after imaging.
Procedure prices
Service name
Price
OCT angiography (per eye)
from 6 400 ₸
Macular OCT (per eye)
from 4 900 ₸
Optic-disc OCT with glaucoma module (per eye)
from 5 000 ₸
Cirrus-HD macular OCT (per eye)
from 3 800 ₸
Fundus fluorescein angiography — a separate examination (per eye)
from 68 500 ₸
OCT angiography and fluorescein angiography prices are per eye.
Structural OCT pricing depends on the area and protocol; separate tariffs are in the price table.
Our doctors
A team of experienced doctors across specialties.
Experience: 13 years
Ophthalmologist
Kalshabekov Alibi Sembaevich
Highest-category ophthalmologist
Experience: 12 years
Ophthalmologist
Tadzhimetov Murat Mikhaylovich
Highest-category ophthalmologist
Experience: 8 years
Ophthalmologist, Ultrasound and OCT Diagnostics
Amanzhanova Aziza Asqarqyzy
Experience: 14 years
Ophthalmologist
Botabekov Rustem Makhamadalievich
Experience: 14 years
Ophthalmic Diagnostics Physician
Nurzhanova Dinara Nurbolatovna
OCT angiography
OCT angiography uses a sequence of rapidly repeated optical scans.
When the reflected signal changes because blood cells are moving, the software detects that change and builds a vascular map.
Therefore, the medically accurate wording is that OCTA assesses vascular architecture and detectable blood-cell motion signal; it does not universally measure absolute blood flow in milliliters or directly provide blood velocity as a physical quantity.
Structural OCT and OCTA answer different clinical questions.
Structural OCT shows anatomy: retinal thickness, fluid, edema, atrophy, and the condition of the macula and optic nerve. OCTA shows vascular patterns in selected layers.
In clinical practice, the physician usually compares both parts of the examination because a vascular map without structural B-scans may be misinterpreted when artifacts or segmentation errors are present.
OCTA may be useful in macular neovascularization, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular occlusions and selected other conditions. In glaucoma it is an adjunct tool for microvascular assessment rather than a stand-alone diagnostic test.
The main distinction from fluorescein angiography is that OCTA does not require intravenous fluorescein and can display depth-resolved vascular layers. However, it does not show vascular leakage or reproduce dye transit phases. For some clinical questions, the physician may order FA in addition to OCTA rather than choose one method as a universal replacement for the other.
The device detects optical-signal changes associated with moving blood cells and creates depth-resolved vascular maps.
For the patient, the practical value is that the physician can correlate vascular architecture with structural OCT and decide whether observation, additional angiography or disease-specific treatment is needed.
Further procedure details
Preparation for scanning
The patient is seated at the tomograph with chin and forehead supported. Pupil dilation is performed only if required by the examination protocol.
Repeated scan acquisition
The patient fixates on a target while the device repeats B-scans of the same region to identify optical-signal changes related to moving blood cells.
Quality control
Signal, fixation and visible artifacts are reviewed. If image quality is inadequate, selected scans may be repeated.
Additional advice and situations
No significant abnormality found
The physician correlates the result with symptoms and other tests. A normal OCTA map does not exclude every eye disorder or cancel follow-up required for a known condition.
Suspicious vascular network identified
Structural OCT and clinical activity are reviewed, then the physician decides whether observation, additional tests or treatment is needed.
Reduced flow-signal area present
Image quality, B-scan, shadowing, segmentation and the possibility of very slow flow are checked before a clinical conclusion is made.
Image quality is insufficient
The scan may be repeated or an alternative/complementary test may be recommended if fixation, media opacity or anatomy prevents a reliable vascular map.
Follow-up after treatment
For longitudinal comparison, use the same scan region and platform when possible. Repeat treatment decisions should not be based on a single OCTA metric but on the complete clinical picture.
Further information
The OCTA result is more than a single “vessel picture.” Depending on the device and protocol, the physician may receive en face maps of selected vascular layers, source structural B-scans with flow overlay and software-derived quantitative indices. These data must be checked for artifacts and interpreted together.
The practical outcome for the patient is more than a printout:
it answers the next clinical questions.
- Are there vascular changes consistent with retinal structure?
- Is observation sufficient?
- Is comparison over time needed?
- Is FA or another test required?
- Is a retina or glaucoma specialist consultation and a change in treatment needed?
This approach reduces the risk of mistaking an automated device map for a final diagnosis.
Related information: Glaucoma.
Facts and offers
Kazakhstan’s first specialized ophthalmology institute, operating since 1933.
Modern diagnostics and surgery using world-class equipment.
Leading ophthalmologists in Kazakhstan, scientists and experienced surgeons.
More than 30,000 operations and around 270,000 consultations annually.
Kazakhstan’s first specialized ophthalmology institute, operating since 1933.
Modern diagnostics and surgery using world-class equipment.
Leading ophthalmologists in Kazakhstan, scientists and experienced surgeons.
More than 30,000 operations and around 270,000 consultations annually.
Kazakhstan’s first specialized ophthalmology institute, operating since 1933.
Modern diagnostics and surgery using world-class equipment.
Leading ophthalmologists in Kazakhstan, scientists and experienced surgeons.
More than 30,000 operations and around 270,000 consultations annually.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
What is OCT angiography?
OCTA is a non-invasive OCT mode that uses optical-signal changes between repeated scans to visualize vascular networks and detectable blood-cell motion signal without intravenous dye.
How is OCTA different from standard OCT?
Structural OCT shows tissue anatomy, retinal thickness, fluid and other morphology. OCTA adds a vascular architecture and flow-signal map. The two are commonly interpreted together.
Is intravenous contrast required?
No. OCTA does not require fluorescein or another intravenous dye.
Does OCTA show vascular leakage?
No. OCTA does not display dye leakage. If leakage is the clinical question, fluorescein angiography may be required.
Can OCTA fully replace fluorescein angiography?
No. OCTA provides depth-resolved vascular information without dye, while FA shows filling dynamics and leakage. They are complementary when clinically indicated.
What does “flow signal” mean?
It is an optical signal that the algorithm associates with moving blood cells between repeated scans. It is not a direct measurement of absolute blood-flow velocity or volume.
What is the FAZ?
The foveal avascular zone is the capillary-free area at the center of the macula. OCTA can measure its shape and area when image quality is adequate.
What is vessel density?
A software-derived quantitative index of vascular density in a selected area. It depends on device, algorithm, segmentation, scan size and quality, so values from different platforms are not automatically equivalent.
Does a dark OCTA area mean there is no blood flow?
Not necessarily. It may represent reduced flow, very slow flow below the detection threshold, shadowing, motion, segmentation error or another artifact.
What is a motion artifact?
Distortion caused by eye/head movement or poor fixation. It may create vessel breaks, lines, stretching or duplicated vascular patterns.