Full-range, high-speed, high-resolution 1 microm spectral-domain optical coherence tomography using BM-scan for volumetric imaging of the human posterior eye

Opt Express. 2008 Jun 9;16(12):8406-20. doi: 10.1364/oe.16.008406.

Abstract

An alternative optical coherence tomography (OCT) to clinical ophthalmic 830 nm spectral-domain OCTs (SD-OCT) is demonstrated. An axial resolution of 7.4 microm, ranging depth of 4.2 mm in tissue, sensitivity of 98.5 dB, and detection speed of 38,300 axial scans/s have been achieved. These are comparable or superior to those of recently commercially available ophthalmic 830 nm SD-OCTs in clinics. In addition, fast volumetric imaging for the in vivo human posterior eye with high-contrast of the choroid is achieved. A broadband 1.04 microm light source enables the high-contrast and high resolution imaging of the retina and choroid. The ranging depth is extended by applying a full-range imaging method with an electro-optic modulator (BM-scan method). A prototype high-speed InGaAs line scan camera with 1024 pixels is used. A newly reported sensitivity improvement property of the BM-scan method demonstrates a sensitivity enhancement of 5.1 dB. We also introduce a newly developed resampling calibration method of spectrum that is independent of the intrinsic dispersion mismatch of the interferometer. The three-dimensional structure of the in vivo human optic nerve head with a very deep cupping is successfully visualized.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Choroid / cytology*
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement / instrumentation*
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / instrumentation*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Retina / cytology*
  • Retinoscopes*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / instrumentation*