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Abstract
We present the first spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) system that combines an isotropic imaging resolution of ~1.5 µm in biological tissue with a 250 kHz image acquisition rate, for in vivo non-contact, volumetric imaging of the cellular structure of the human cornea. OCT images of the healthy human cornea acquired with this system reveal the cellular structure of the corneal epithelium, cellular debris and mucin clusters in the tear film, the shape, size and spatial distribution of the sub-basal corneal nerves and keratocytes in the corneal stroma, as well as reflections from endothelial nuclei. The corneal images presented here demonstrate the potential clinical value of the new high speed, high resolution OCT system for non-invasive diagnostics and monitoring the treatment of corneal diseases.
Highlights
Corneal blindness is the fourth leading cause of world blindness after cataract, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, with the greatest burden falling on developing countries, where it is estimated that > 90% of corneal blindness exists [1,2,3]
Due to the limited axial resolution and the susceptibility of the full field (FF)-Optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology to strong reflections arising from scattering of the imaging beam from the collagen structure of the corneal Bowman’s membrane (BM), they were not able to image the tear film and the cellular structure of the corneal epithelium
The combination of isotropic, micrometer-scale imaging resolution and high image acquisition rate offered by the novel ultrahigh resolution OCT (UHR-OCT) system described here, allowed for in-vivo volumetric imaging of the cellular and sub-cellular structure of the human cornea without the need for physical contact with the tissue
Summary
Corneal blindness is the fourth leading cause of world blindness after cataract, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, with the greatest burden falling on developing countries, where it is estimated that > 90% of corneal blindness exists [1,2,3]. The etiology of corneal blindness is very broad: from infections and inflammations (bacterial, fungal and viral keratitis, trachoma, Mooren's ulcer and Steven's Johnson Syndrome) to inherited (stromal and endothelial (Fuch’s) dystrophies) and degenerative (Keratoconus) conditions, to trauma [4] (mechanically or chemically induced). These conditions can affect adversely the morphology and physiology of either the entire cornea or can be limited primarily to selected regions of the anterior, middle or posterior cornea. Diagnostics of corneal diseases is crucial to assigning the most effective therapy that can result either in cure or in slowing down the progression of incurable pathologies
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