Spectral optical coherence tomography: a novel technique for cornea imaging.

PURPOSE

Spectral optical coherence tomography (SOCT) is a new, noninvasive, noncontact, high-resolution technique that provides cross-sectional images of the objects that weakly absorb and scatter light. SOCT, because of very short acquisition time and high sensitivity, is capable of providing tomograms of substantially better quality than the conventional OCT. The aim of this paper is to show the application of the SOCT to cross-sectional imaging of the cornea and its pathologies.

METHODS

Eleven eyes with different corneal pathologies were examined with a slit lamp and the use of a prototype SOCT instrument constructed in the Institute of Physics, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland.

RESULTS

Our SOCT system provides high-resolution (4 microm axial, 10 microm transversal) tomograms composed of 3000-5000 A-scans with an acquisition time of 120-200 ms. The quality of the images is adequate for detailed cross-sectional evaluation of various corneal pathologies. Objective assessment of the localization, size, shape, and light-scattering properties of the changed tissue is possible. Corneal and epithelial thickness and the depth and width of lesions can be estimated.

CONCLUSION

SOCT technique allows acquiring clinically valuable cross-sectional optical biopsy of the cornea and its pathologies.