Wide-field retinal hemodynamic imaging with the tracking scanning laser ophthalmoscope

Real time, high-speed image stabilization with a retinal tracking scanning laser ophthalmoscope (TSLO) enables new approaches to established diagnostics. Large frequency range (DC to 19 kHz), wide-field (40-deg) stabilized Doppler flowmetry imaging was demonstrated in initial human subject tests. The fundus imaging method is a quasi-confocal line-scanning laser ophthalmoscope (LSLO). The retinal tracking system uses a confocal reflectometer with a closed loop optical servo system to lock onto features in the ocular fundus and automatically re-lock after blinks. By performing a slow scan with the laser line imager, frequency-resolved retinal perfusion and vascular flow images were obtained free of eye motion artifacts. Normal adult subjects and patients were tested with and without mydriasis to characterize flow imaging performance.