In vivo high resolution human corneal imaging using full-field optical coherence tomography.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Biomedical Imaging
• Optical Engineering

Background:

• Accurate imaging of the human cornea is crucial for diagnosing various eye conditions.
• Existing in vivo imaging methods have limitations in resolution and field-of-view for comprehensive corneal analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate the first full-field optical coherence tomography (FFOCT) device for in vivo human cornea imaging.
• To demonstrate the capability of FFOCT to visualize detailed corneal microstructures.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel full-field optical coherence tomography (FFOCT) system.
• Acquisition of in vivo human cornea images using the FFOCT device.
• Characterization of imaging performance, including lateral resolution (1.7 µm) and field-of-view (1.26 mm x 1.26 mm).

Main Results:

• FFOCT successfully imaged human corneal structures in vivo, including epithelial layers, Bowman's layer, sub-basal nerve plexus (SNP), keratocytes, stromal nerves, Descemet's membrane, and endothelial cells.
• High lateral resolution and a large field-of-view were achieved simultaneously, a combination not previously reported for in vivo human eye imaging.
• Contactless operation was maintained during image acquisition.

Conclusions:

• The developed FFOCT device provides high-resolution, in vivo visualization of the human cornea.
• FFOCT's capabilities suggest its potential as a valuable new diagnostic tool in ophthalmology.
• Further development and clinical validation are warranted to establish FFOCT in routine ophthalmic practice.