OCT machines are an essential part of the practice of any eye professional, since they can produce volumtetric data of the retina and the choroid, showing not only blood flow but also structural information.
OCT machine prices vary widely, going from $35,000 to over $100,000. Prices drop significantly for a used or refurbished unit, starting at less than $10,000.
The best OCT machines in the market are offered by the brand Zeiss, specialized in ophthalmologic devices. Some of their OCT machines are the HD-OCT Cirrus 6000, the HD-OCT Cirrus 500, the HD-OCT Cirrus 5000, the HD-OCT Cirrus 5000 with AngioPlex and the Primus 200 OCT.
Keep reading if you want the answer to the most relevant queries about OCT machines!
Contents
What is OCTA in ophthalmology?
OCTA is a new imaging method developed to produce angiographic visualizations of the retina, choroid and skin. Although commercial units started being available in 2012, it is only in 2014 when the first clinical studies were published. It stands out for being non-invasive and for its practicality, specially when it comes to following up patients with vascular diseases.
In ophthalmology, OCT machines are capable of producing high resolution imaging and delivering volumetric information in a matter of seconds. This represents a significant contrast with dye based angiography, which in nature is more invasive and time consuming.
Although it remains to be seen if OCTA can replace dye based angiography in all its uses, its capabilities are improving each year thanks to frequent software updates and better hardware.
What can an OCT scan detect?
OCT machines can produce volumtetric data of the retina and the choroid, showing not only blood flow but also structural information. While dye based angiography is limited to the surface of the retina, OCTA can account for depth in their angiographic visualizations.
Thanks to its highly detailed imaging, OCTA can provide the exact size, site and location of neovascular lesions. Furthermore, OCT combines angiographic visualizations with cross-sectional representations of the retina.
OCT is reported to be 90% accurate at diagnosing several types of CNV, and studies suggest it carries a lot of potential efficacy for diagnosing diseases including diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and retinal vascular occlusions.
Newer models like the HD-OCT Cirrus 6000 can compete —and sometimes surpass toe to toe with other methods in almost any assessment.
How is optical coherence tomography (OCT) performed?
Usually, OCT involves putting dilating eye drops in the patient’s eye as preparation. The only thing that they have to do is place their head on a support and look into the lens of the device.
The eye practitioner will operate the device —usually with a joystick or a mouse— and perform the necessary scans. The duration of the process depends on the OCT machine and on the disease to be diagnosed, but most of the time it only takes a few seconds.
OCT machine prices: what do they depend on?
OCT machines can represent a big investment. However, its value doesn’t take too long to be recovered. Overall, it seems like the average practitioner can expect the OCT to pay for itself in 2 years. This period could be as short as 4 months if OCTAs are performed regularly and frequently.
Still, coming up with the necessary money upfront can be difficult, up to the point of being prohibitive for many small practitioners. For this reason, some brands offer the option of paying their products in loans.
When you’re thinking of buying an OCT machine, there are a few aspects that you should keep in mind. Knowing them will help you make a decision that adjusts to your budget without making any trade-off in quality or reliability.
Whether it’s a new, used or refurbished OCT machine
Naturally, buying new equipment will put a higher strain on your budget. New devices tend to pack more features and better technology, which makes them more future-proof and gives them more room for improvement through future software updates.
If you don’t mind not having the latest in technology, buying used equipment can save you money —if the model is very old, the difference will be very significant. Also, consider that top-of-the-line machines from a few years ago can still be quite expensive.
For just a few thousand dollars more —or sometimes even at the same price— you can get a refurbished unit. If you’re starting your practice and don’t have too many patients, a refurbished OCT machine may be as good for you as a new model.
Software
A robust software will play a key part in creating an efficient and reliable experience. You want your OCT’s software to be user-friendly and rich in features. Look for things like quick or instantaneous report generation, 3D imaging capabilities, and hands-free operation.
Some products and brands have exclusive features. For instance, the HD-OCT Cirrus 6000 includes a unique function named “slab view”, which generates enface images from various movable contours.
Ease of use plays an important role here. You don’t want software that is prone to input mistakes because of a poor interface or that takes too long to start functioning.
Quality
It is possible to find cheaper machines from lesser-known brands, often not approved by the FDA. Although it may be tempting to buy a machine that’s well under the usual price, consider that it is worth making a solid investment when buying OCTs.
An underperforming machine could carry many limitations, like a too-low sampling rate or narrow lens. Besides, software is the element that’s advancing the fastest today in OCTs. You’ll want a machine that’s capable of taking advantage of future upgrades.
Brand
Choosing a trustworthy brand may save you from machines that don’t function as expected or show hardware problems in the long run.
Trusted brands can also mean higher prices, at least if you’re looking for the new and latest devices. However, if you’re okay with buying a used or older machine, finding a good brand doesn’t have to be expensive.
Some brands have become industry standards and are trusted by medical practitioners in many places. One of them is Carl Zeiss Meditec, which pioneered the manufacturing of these kinds of machines.
Diagnosis
Not all OCTs are capable of diagnosing every condition. Usually, different products are made with different diagnoses in mind, and it’s not a good idea to go for an OCT machine that’s a jack of all trades. Rather, pick one that’s specially adapted to your needs.
Before buying, make sure that the machine that you’re choosing is capable of performing all the relevant diagnoses for your specific field of ophthalmology.
A larger scope of diagnosis options may raise the price of an OCT, since they often require specific hardware and software features.
Best OCT machines in the market (2021)
HD-OCT Cirrus 6000
Zeiss has offered state-of-the-art devices since 2001, when there were barely any other competitors. The new HD-OCT Cirrus 6000 improves upon that long development to offer an exceptionally high scan rate, useful software features and an overall faster experience.
This model is perfect for any eye professional who wants to take their practice to another level of precision and convenience. Some of the features this device delivers are:
- A scan rate of 100,000 samples per second, which allows for highly detailed microvascular scans.
- A reduced chance of motion artifacts thanks to its new eye-tracking feature: Fast Trac. This, combined with the high definition scan, reduces the OCTA time by 270% in comparison with older models.
- An efficient way to store patient data. Raw data is transferred to the device and stored in a way to make patient continuity seamless and efficient.
To know the price of the HD-OCT Cirrus 6000, you’ll need to do a direct inquiry. However, you can expect the price to be between $60,000 and $100,000.
HD-OCT Cirrus 500
The HD-OCT contains the essential OCT, making it suitable for almost any eye practitioner. It has a wide range of applications and is capable of making varied diagnoses, including glaucoma and retinal disease, retina assessment for cataract surgery, and anterior segment imaging for corneal disease.
A smaller cousin of the HD-OCT Cirrus 5000, the 500 offers easy to use and easy to learn interfaces with an excellent performance. If you can’t afford the newer, more feature-packed models like the HD-OCT Cirrus 6000 but still want to have some of the best technology, then this one may be the perfect model for you.
A new HD-OCT Cirrus 500 will cost you around $30,000, but you can find used and refurbished units for as low as $17,000.
HD-OCT Cirrus 5000
For a long time, the HD-OCT Cirrus 5000 set the bar for premium OCT machines. With its 68,000 samples per second sample rate and its eye-tracking mechanisms, the HD-OCT is a sophisticated unit built for advanced eye practitioners.
With its refined hardware and myriad of features, the HD-OCT is both future proof and capable of diagnosing any disease.
When looking for a used or refurbished model, the price range of the HD-OCT Cirrus 5000 goes from $25,000 to $38,000.
HD-OCT Cirrus 5000 with AngioPlex
If you have the extra budget and want the very best in OCT, then you won’t regret going for the HD-OCT Cirrus 5000 with AngioPlex. The addition of the AngioPlex feature is no small thing: it allows for the imaging of both vascular and structural information in a single scan.
AngioPlex can make high-quality, 3D OCT imaging even more rutinary and simple. This machine is ideal for advanced practitioners who want to make their work faster and smoother.
Buying a refurbished HD-OCT Cirrus 5000 with AngioPlex will cost you at least 38,000$.
Primus 200 OCT
Last but not least, you can’t go wrong with the pioneer of OCT: the Primus 200 OCT. If you’re a small practitioner looking for your first OCT, the Primus 200 OCT will expand and improve your services radically.
Its compact design doesn’t forego any of the well-established quality of Zeiss lenses and software. It doesn’t have the many features of the other models, but it packs the essential OCT functionalities into a smaller, more affordable machine.
A new Primus 200 OCT will still cost $38,000 or more, but you can find a used or refurbished one for under $10,000.
Conclusion
All things considered, you have two ways to go if you’re planning to buy an OCT machine. If you want to buy a new one, the price range is of $38,000-$100,000. If you’re looking for used and refurbished units, then expect a range of $10,000-$55,000.
Other important factors that affect the OCT machine prices are their quality, brand, software and diagnosing capabilities.
Keeping these factors in mind will help you choose an OCT machine that adjusts to your budget and satisfies all your needs as an eye professional.
