High-Resolution Optical Coherence Tomography in Healthy Individuals Provides Resolution at the Cellular and Subcellular Levels.

PURPOSE

To assess the clinical resolution capacities of a novel high-resolution optical coherence tomography (High-Res OCT).

METHODS

Eight healthy volunteers were included in this observational study. Using the SPECTRALIS High-Res OCT device (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg) macular b-scans were taken and compared with b-scans acquired with a SPECTRALIS HRA+OCT device (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg). High-Res OCT scans were also compared with hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections from a human donor retina.

RESULTS

High-Res OCT allowed identification of several retinal structures at the cellular and subcellular levels, namely, cell nuclei of ganglion cells, displaced amacrine cells, cone photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelial cells compared with the commercial device. Rod photoreceptor nuclei were partially detectable. Localization of cell type-specific nuclei were confirmed by histological sections of human donor retina. Additionally, all three plexus of the retinal vasculature could be visualized.

CONCLUSIONS

SPECTRALIS High-Res OCT device provides improved resolution compared with the conventional SPECTRALIS HRA+OCT device and allows to identify structures at the cellular level, similar to histological sections.

TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE

High-Res OCT shows improved visualization of retinal structures in healthy individuals and can be used to assess individual cells within the retina.