Adaptive focusing optical coherence tomography for corneal imaging

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Optical Imaging

Background:

• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is vital for corneal disease diagnosis, offering high-resolution 3D imaging.
• Corneal curvature and OCT's depth of field (DOF) limitations cause defocusing, reducing image quality and sensitivity.
• Current methods require multiple focus adjustments and image stitching, increasing time and artifact risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel adaptive focusing OCT system for high-resolution, full-depth corneal imaging.
• To overcome the limitations of single-shot imaging and traditional multi-focus techniques.
• To enable faster and more accurate diagnosis of corneal conditions.

Main Methods:

• Proposed an adaptive focusing OCT system utilizing corneal symmetry and an electrically tunable lens.
• Achieved periodic focusing stability for consistent image quality across the entire cornea.
• Implemented a single-scan protocol covering an 11 mm range with 1.5 mm depth variation.

Main Results:

• Attained a lateral resolution of 10 µm across the full imaging depth.
• Reduced imaging time by 50% compared to traditional methods.
• Eliminated the need for image stitching, preventing associated artifacts.
• Demonstrated feasibility with curved tape samples and excised porcine corneas.

Conclusions:

• The adaptive focusing OCT system provides high-resolution, full-depth corneal imaging efficiently.
• This technique offers a significant advancement for rapid and artifact-free corneal imaging.
• The system shows great potential for clinical applications in diagnosing corneal diseases.