Three-Dimensional Cataract Crystalline Lens Imaging With Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Biomedical Imaging
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Cataract is a leading cause of vision impairment in older adults.
• Understanding the early, subtle changes in the crystalline lens is crucial for cataract research.
• Current imaging techniques may not fully capture the three-dimensional characteristics of lens opacities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To image, describe, and characterize crystalline lens features in adults with and without cataracts.
• To utilize three-dimensional imaging with swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT).
• To compare SS-OCT findings with clinical cataract grading.

Main Methods:

• Employed a novel SS-OCT laboratory prototype for enhanced crystalline lens visualization.
• Imaged the anterior segment of eyes in cataract surgery patients (n=17) and healthy volunteers (n=14).
• Clinically graded pre-cataract surgery patients using the Lens Opacification Classification System III.

Main Results:

• Hypo- and hyperreflective features were observed in the lenses of all cataract patients and some volunteers.
• Hyperreflective features correlated with cortical/subcapsular cataracts, appearing parallel to lens surfaces or at the posterior pole.
• Hyporeflective features were identified in the lens cortex, and OCT signal in the nucleus correlated with nuclear cataract grade.

Conclusions:

• Dedicated SS-OCT is valuable for in vivo study of subtle cataractous lens opacities.
• SS-OCT provides three-dimensional positional and size information of opacities.
• This imaging approach offers enhanced insights into age-related changes contributing to cataract formation.