Abstract
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) allows the visualization of the retinal microarchitecture as cross-sectional or tomographic volumetric data. The usefulness of OCT in the management of various retinal diseases is validated by the possibility to allow early diagnosis and to help in the decision-making process. OCT is applied by two main methods: time domain (TD-OCT) and spectral domain (SD-OCT). The advantages of SD-OCT over TD-OCT are significant improvement of the image axial resolution, decreased acquisition times, reduction of motion artifacts, increased area of retinal sampling, and the possibility to create topographic maps by the three-dimensional evaluation of tissues. OCT is the most precise method to measure the central macular thickness (which is the most important practical parameter) in vivo. It has been demonstrated that there are differences in the retinal thickness measurements between OCT models, explained by the higher axial and transverse resolutions of the newer devices. Further research has led to significant improvements in OCT technology represented by ultrahigh resolution OCT (UHR-OCT), swept source OCT (SS-OCT), enhanced depth imaging OCT (EDI-OCT), and adaptive optics. Technological progress in OCT imaging offered new perspectives for better understanding the retinal diseases, opening new avenues for the fundamental and clinical research. This is a review of the data in the literature concerning the evolution of OCT technology in the field of retinal imaging.
Highlights
The progress of the retinal imaging was determined by three major inventions: the direct ophthalmoscope, the fluorescein angiography, and the optical coherence tomography (OCT)
OCT is applied by two main methods: time-domain OCT (TD-OCT) and spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT)
OCT is applied by two main methods: time domain OCT (TD-OCT) and spectral domain OCT (SD-OCT)
Summary
The progress of the retinal imaging was determined by three major inventions: the direct ophthalmoscope, the fluorescein angiography, and the optical coherence tomography (OCT). In 1961 Novotny and Davis injected fluorescein dye intravenously in order to visualize the retinal circulation; the technique named fluorescein angiography was born. Noninvasiveness, and richness of information, OCT became soon a crucial investigative tool in most of the retina practices [1]. Retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), central serous chorioretinopathy, macular hole, vitreomacular interface syndrome, and diabetic maculopathy have taken advantage from the introduction of OCT in the clinical practice. The progress in the OCT techniques over the past decade is emphasized, from time domain-OCT (TD-OCT) to spectral domain-OCT (SDOCT) as well as future directions, with implications in the clinical practice
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