Chen Qingyu, Nolen Stephanie Lauren, Spencer Sydni Adriana, Yi Ji
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Taiwan J Ophthalmol. 2025 Aug 29;15(3):389-398. doi: 10.4103/tjo.TJO-D-25-00078. eCollection 2025 Jul-Sep.
Visible light optical coherence tomography (VIS-OCT) has made significant progress in the past decade from proof-of-concept retinal imaging in preclinical models to human clinical translation. The technical advances of VIS-OCT imaging devices include new light sources, optical fiber components, balanced detection methods, and an array of data processing methods. We summarize the unique features of using VIS-OCT in comparison with near-infrared OCT (NIR-OCT), including ultra-high resolution, retinal microvascular oximetry, and reflectance spectroscopy. The ultra-high resolution is granted by the shorter wavelengths in the visible light range ~500-650 nm, as compared with the conventional OCT wavelengths >800 nm. Detailed sub-bandings in the inner plexiform layer and outer segment of photoreceptors, as well as in the retinal pigment epithelium and Bruch's membrane, are consistently resolved in VIS-OCT. The three-dimensional resolving capacity of VIS-OCT allows better isolation of hemoglobin absorption features, allowing blood oxygen saturation (SO) calculation in retinal microvasculature. Oximetry calculations were performed down to the capillary level in humans, albeit through massive averaging, which was unattainable by previous methods. Advancing VIS-OCT technology has a high potential to produce significant clinical impact in ophthalmology in the near future.
在过去十年中，可见光光学相干断层扫描（VIS - OCT）已取得显著进展，从临床前模型中的概念验证视网膜成像发展到人类临床应用。VIS - OCT成像设备的技术进步包括新的光源、光纤组件、平衡检测方法以及一系列数据处理方法。我们总结了与近红外光学相干断层扫描（NIR - OCT）相比，使用VIS - OCT的独特特性，包括超高分辨率、视网膜微血管血氧测定和反射光谱。与传统的大于800nm的光学相干断层扫描波长相比，可见光范围内约500 - 650nm的较短波长赋予了VIS - OCT超高分辨率。在VIS - OCT中，始终能够分辨出神经纤维层内部、光感受器外段以及视网膜色素上皮和布鲁赫膜中的详细子带。VIS - OCT的三维分辨能力能够更好地分离血红蛋白吸收特征，从而实现视网膜微血管中血氧饱和度（SO）的计算。尽管通过大量平均才得以实现，但在人体中已经能够进行直至毛细血管水平的血氧测定计算，这是以前的方法无法做到的。在不久的将来，不断发展的VIS - OCT技术极有可能在眼科领域产生重大临床影响。
