Abstract
In the last few decades, the ocular surface and the tear film have been noninvasively investigated in vivo, in a three-dimensional, high resolution, and real-time mode, by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Recently, OCT technology has made great strides in improving the acquisition speed and image resolution, thus increasing its impact in daily clinical practice and in the research setting. All these results have been achieved because of a transition from traditional time-domain (TD) to Fourier-domain (FD) technology. FD-OCT devices include a spectrometer in the receiver that analyzes the spectrum of reflected light on the retina or ocular surface and transforms it into information about the depth of the structures according to the Fourier principle. In this review, we summarize and provide the state-of-the-art in FD-OCT imaging of the ocular surface system, addressing specific aspects such as tear film dynamics and epithelial changes under physiologic and pathologic conditions. A theory on the dynamic nature of the tear film has been developed to explain the variations within the individual compartments. Moreover, an integrative model of tear film behavior during the inter-blink period and visual fixation is proposed.
Highlights
The tear film (TF) represents the first barrier of the eye against environmental harmful agents, ranging from infections to pollution [1,2]
The introduction of spectral-domain (SD) optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology has led to a significant increase imaging of the ocular surface, addressing a number of aspects such as in speed acquisition and in imaging resolution at specific depths, as well as in the signal to noise natural/artificial tear film dynamics and ocular surface changes in different situations
Scopus databases for original of tear film behavior during the inter-blink period and visual fixation is presented, wherein the core published from 1991–2019, using the following combination of keywords: OCT “artificial tears”, assumption is the dynamic nature of the tear film across the individual compartments of ocular surface
Summary
The tear film (TF) represents the first barrier of the eye against environmental harmful agents, ranging from infections to pollution [1,2]. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a relatively recent and fast, infrared-light-based imaging platformsmodality [11], they offer limited advantages overinSD-OCT the study of TF This interferometric method has SS-OCT been provide greater scanning not better [12].1994, and it has gradually become a used to explore the depth anteriorbut segment of the resolution human eye since tool inreview clinical practice [6,7,8]. The introduction of spectral-domain (SD) OCT technology has led to a significant increase imaging of the ocular surface (mainly with SD-OCT), addressing a number of aspects such as in speed acquisition and in imaging resolution at specific depths, as well as in the signal to noise natural/artificial tear film dynamics and ocular surface changes in different situations. Aim of the present review is to summarize and provide the state-of-the-art in FD-OCT imaging
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