Photon signal detection and evaluation in the adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscope

To select a suitable photodetector for an adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscope (AOSLO) and evaluate its performance, we characterized the signal and noise properties in the AOSLO photon detection and derived the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Using the SNR as the main criterion, we chose the best detector from a selection of four photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) and three avalanche photodiodes (APDs). We conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the performance of the selected detector on our AOSLO. The study presents a practical strategy that can be used to test the photodetector for either initial evaluation or subsequent performance in in-line inspection.