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Ultrahigh resolution OCT prototype performs unprecedented imaging
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FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The clinical applications of in vivo high-speed ultrahigh resolution optical coherence tomography are invaluable, especially for corneal refractive surgeons, said Viki Christopoulos, MD, here at the International Society for Imaging in the Eye meeting.
“The clinical applications are especially invaluable for corneal refractive surgeons,” she said. “This is a wonderful technique to evaluate the flap and stroma interface, and it is also important in looking at different complications.”
Dr. Christopoulos presented results on her early clinical experiences with high speed ultrahigh resolution optical coherence tomography (hsUHR-OCT), a non-contact cross-sectional imaging method to study corneal pathology in vivo.
Compared to other imaging methods, including slit lamp, ultrasound biomicroscopy and confocal microscopy, OCT technology has better resolution, Dr. Christopoulos said.
“Our prototype improved upon this resolution at 3.5 µm and at an incredibly high speed of 24,000 Hz,” she said.
Dr. Christopoulos sampled 12 eyes of six normal subjects who had undergone corneal surgery or trauma to the cornea. The subjects were scanned using the hsUHR-OCT, which takes 4 seconds to scan, and were viewed under a conventional slit lamp.
According to Dr. Christopoulos, the increased scanning rate of this prototype allows 3 x 3 x 1.4 mm and 0.75 x 0.75 x 1.4 mm raster scans of the cornea with 501 x 1024 x 180 samplings in 3.5 seconds.
The magnified images produced in this study were helpful in identifying corneal features that were not seen under conventional biomicroscopy, she said.
The hsUHR-OCT helps to better conceptualize corneal pathology, allows measurements for therapeutic and refractive planning and also helps to better evaluate surgical refractive interfaces and healing to improve surgical outcomes.