[Real-time optical coherence tomography-assisted high-precision vitreoretinal surgery in the clinical routine]

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Surgical Technology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Vitreoretinal surgery traditionally relies on indirect visualization.
• Enhanced real-time imaging can improve surgical precision and outcomes.
• Limitations exist in current surgical microscopes for detailed intraoperative visualization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the integration of spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) into an operating microscope for vitreoretinal surgery.
• To assess the utility of real-time, high-resolution imaging for intraoperative decision-making.
• To determine the impact of intraoperative OCT on surgical precision.

Main Methods:

• Integration of SD-OCT technology into a standard operating microscope.
• Real-time imaging of retinal layers, vitreous, and instrument-tissue interactions during surgery.
• Comparison of surgical precision with and without intraoperative OCT.

Main Results:

• SD-OCT integration provides high-resolution, real-time visualization during vitreoretinal surgery.
• Intraoperative OCT facilitates enhanced visualization of critical surgical structures and instrument proximity.
• Significant improvements in the precision of vitreoretinal surgical maneuvers were observed.

Conclusions:

• Integrated SD-OCT represents a significant advancement for image-guided vitreoretinal surgery.
• Real-time OCT imaging enhances intraoperative decision-making and surgical accuracy.
• This technology is crucial for implementing micrometer-level guided surgical techniques.