Micrometer axial resolution OCT for corneal imaging

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Biomedical Optics
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Accurate corneal imaging is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring eye diseases.
• Existing optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems may face limitations in resolution and dispersion management for detailed corneal layer analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and present a novel optical coherence tomography (OCT) system for high axial resolution corneal imaging.
• To evaluate the system's capability in quantifying thin corneal structures in vivo.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a broadband supercontinuum light source with a 375 nm bandwidth (625–1000 nm).
• Designed the system in free space to minimize dispersion and implemented a custom Czerny-Turner spectrometer.
• Achieved an imaging depth of 1 mm with an experimentally measured axial resolution of 1.1 μm in corneal tissue.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated high axial resolution (1.1 μm) in corneal tissue, consistent with theoretical calculations.
• Successfully performed in vivo imaging, quantifying thin corneal layers like the tear film and Bowman's layer.
• Showcased the system's ability to differentiate between normal, keratoconus, and contact lens-wearing eyes.

Conclusions:

• The developed OCT system offers high-resolution corneal imaging capabilities.
• The system is suitable for various ophthalmic applications, including the analysis of corneal pathologies and contact lens interactions.
• Quantification of thin corneal layers is feasible with this advanced OCT technology.