Abstract
Diagnostic classification techniques used to diagnose cataracts, the world's leading cause of blindness, are currently based on subjective methods. Here, we present optical coherence tomography as a noninvasive tool for volumetric visualization of lesions formed in the crystalline lens. A custom-made swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) system was utilized to investigate the murine crystalline lens. In addition to imaging cataractous lesions in aged wildtype mice, we studied the structure and shape of cataracts in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Hyperscattering opacifications in the crystalline lens were observed in both groups. Post mortem histological analysis were performed to correlate findings in the anterior and posterior part of the lens to 3D OCT in vivo imaging. Our results showcase the capability of OCT to rapidly visualize cataractous lesions in the murine lens and suggest that OCT might be a valuable tool that provides additional insight for preclinical studies of cataract formation.
Highlights
Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide [1]
We have demonstrated the use of a custom-made Optical coherence tomography (OCT) system for studying the murine crystalline lens in vivo
Volumetric OCT enabled the visualization of different types of opacities and provided information about their shape and location in the murine lens
Summary
Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide [1] They are characterized by a loss of crystalline lens transparency due to the formation of opacifications which results in poor retinal image contrast and visual deterioration [2]. The current diagnostic methods for determining whether cataract surgery should be performed on a patient consist of a visual acuity test and a slit lamp evaluation. Different classification metrics such as the Lens Opacification Classification System III (LOCS III) are used [6], they all rely on a subjective component for evaluation. Optical imaging techniques such as Scheimpflug tomography or double-pass aberrometry have been proposed for investigating the crystalline lens and have the advantage of performing a quantitative assessment [7,8,9,10,11]
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