Using state of the art laser technology, third generation ophthalmologic optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been developed which enables ultrahigh resolution, non-invasive in vivo imaging of retinal morphology with an unprecedented axial resolution of 3 micrometers . This represents a quantum leap in performance over the 10-15 micrometers resolution currently available in ophthalmic OCT systems and, to our knowledge, is the highest resolution in vivo ophthalmologic imaging achieved to date. This resolution enables optical biopsy, i.e. the in vivo visualization of intraretinal architectural morphology which had previously only been possible with histopathology. Image processing and segmentation techniques are demonstrated for automatic identification and quantification of retinal morphology. Ultrahigh resolution ophthalmic OCT has the potential to enhance the sensitivity and specificity for early diagnosis of several ocular diseases, e.g. glaucoma, which requires precise imaging and measurement of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, as well as improve monitoring of disease progression and efficacy of therapy.

Date Published: 23 May 2001
PDF: 5 pages
Proc. SPIE 4251, Coherence Domain Optical Methods in Biomedical Science and Clinical Applications V, (23 May 2001); doi: 10.1117/12.427892

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 4251:
Coherence Domain Optical Methods in Biomedical Science and Clinical Applications V
Valery V. Tuchin; Joseph A. Izatt; James G. Fujimoto, Editor(s)