Abstract
We demonstrate the advantages of optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging for investigation of spontaneous retinal venous pulsation (SRVP). The pulsatile changes in venous vessel caliber are analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively using conventional intensity-based OCT as well as the functional extension Doppler OCT (DOCT). Single-channel and double-channel line scanning protocols of our multi-channel OCT prototype are employed to investigate venous pulsatile caliber oscillations as well as venous flow pulsatility in the eyes of healthy volunteers. A comparison to recordings of scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO) – a standard en-face imaging modality for evaluation of SRVP – is provided, emphasizing the advantages of tomographic image acquisition. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first quantitative time-resolved investigation of SRVP and associated retinal perfusion characteristics using OCT.
Highlights
Spontaneous retinal venous pulsation (SRVP) describes the phenomenon of rhythmic caliber oscillations of one or multiple major retinal veins at the site of the optic nerve head (ONH)[1,2]
The tomographic imaging approach and, in particular, the functional contrast enabled by Doppler OCT (DOCT), facilitate detailed investigations of the perfusion characteristics over time, unmatched by previous reports of spontaneous retinal venous pulsation (SRVP). (i) The quantitative measurement of the SRVP amplitude was improved by a factor of ~3 when relative changes of transversal vessel diameter are compared to relative changes of venous cross-sectional area
Future evaluations are needed to study SRVP using DOCT in a larger sample size to extend the findings presented in this pilot study
Summary
Spontaneous retinal venous pulsation (SRVP) describes the phenomenon of rhythmic caliber oscillations of one or multiple major retinal veins at the site of the optic nerve head (ONH)[1,2]. Previous studies of SRVP observed pulsatile venous caliber oscillations either directly, via examination using a conventional ophthalmoscope or a slit lamp[2,5], or via optical imaging modalities, such as fundus photography/videography[18] or scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO)[19,20]. There exists another highly successful optical imaging modality that enables high speed, high resolution, and, in particular, cross-sectional image acquisition of transparent or translucent samples such as the human retina – optical coherence tomography (OCT)[26]. OCT has revolutionized retinal diagnostics[27] but until www.nature.com/scientificreports/
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