En Face and Cross-sectional Corneal Tomograms Using Sub-micron spatial resolution Optical Coherence Tomography

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Biomedical Imaging
• Optical Engineering

Background:

• Accurate diagnosis of corneal pathology requires detailed imaging of corneal layers and structures.
• Current imaging techniques may lack the resolution or 3D capability for comprehensive analysis.
• Identifying structures such as the palisade of Vogt (POV), neovascularization (NV), and corneal nerves is crucial for diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a prototype full-field optical coherence tomography (FF-OCT) system.
• To achieve isotropic sub-micron spatial resolution for en face and cross-sectional corneal imaging.
• To enable 3D reconstruction and large field of view (FOV) imaging of corneal structures.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel FF-OCT system prototype.
• Validation of the system using in vivo rat and rabbit eyes.
• Quantification of corneal anatomical characteristics including layer thickness and cell density.
• Imaging of specific corneal structures like POV, nerves, and neovascularization.

Main Results:

• The FF-OCT system demonstrated isotropic sub-micron resolution in en face and cross-sectional views.
• 3D reconstructed images and large FOV were achievable.
• The system successfully delineated the palisade of Vogt, corneal nerve bundles, and conjunctival vessels in rats.
• Vessel walls and red blood cells were clearly identified in a rabbit corneal neovascularization model.

Conclusions:

• The developed FF-OCT prototype provides high-resolution imaging of corneal microstructures.
• This technology enables detailed visualization of key anatomical features relevant to corneal pathology.
• The FF-OCT findings are expected to significantly aid in the diagnosis and treatment of corneal diseases.