Opthalmology

There are hundreds of millions of people around the world who are visually impaired. The occurrence of eye diseases increases with age and early diagnosis and follow-up treatment are crucial to prevent the progression of the disease. Non-invasive imaging using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) has had a major impact in preventing eye diseases turning into blindness.

Using the OCT technology, a cross-sectional view of the back of the eye, the retina, can be visualized together with a front view. The OCT technology has advanced to the present state where high-resolution cross-sectional images of the retina are possible and routinely used in the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases such as macular degeneration (AMD). The most widely adopted OCT devices are SD-OCT devices based on super luminescent diodes (SLDs) and spectrometers operating at an axial scan rate of 70 kHz. SS-OCT with an axial scan rate from 100 up to above 1000 kHz has been shown to provide new clinical benefits to combat retinal diseases becoming increasingly prevalent with an aging society.

The whole eye can also be imaged using OCT technology, and especially the length of the eye is a key parameter in the selection of intraocular lens (IOL) for cataract surgery. Originally Optical Biometers used the first generation of TD-OCT to measure the axial length. The recent advances of SS-OCT enable full 3D scans of the eye with better accuracy in cataract surgery.

Faster imaging speed enabling angiography (blood flow) imaging for diabetic retinopathy treatment
Faster imaging speed for wide-field imaging to diagnose diabetic retinopathy earlier
Longer imaging range for 3-D full eye biometry (eye geometry) for safer and more precise cataract surgery

How can full eye OCT imaging be used to improve cataract surgery?

OCT for full-eye imaging is used in imaging before Cataract surgery for improved outcome in terms of determining optical power of the eye for selection of the right intraocular lens (IOL). This improves the estimation errors for the implantation of intraocular lens (IOL), both on the lens needed (to avoid refractory errors) and on the placement of the lens (to prevent IOL dislocation). SS-OCT provides high-resolution images to extract important parameters such as the cornea topography, anterior and posterior lens surface, axial length and lens thickness and anterior angle assessment.

How can Ophthalmic OCT imaging be advanced to improve diagnostics?

The current OCT technology is limited in speed and axial range. Spectrometers are estimated to be able to achieve around 300-400 kHz axial scan rate, but the spectral resolution limits the axial range to around 3-4 mm. What is needed to achieve 3D imaging is an axial scan rate of 800-1600 kHz and 12 mm imaging range.

The solution to achieve the next big technology leap within OCT imaging is a combination of multiple state-of-the art technologies. Micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) wavelength tuning of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) can achieve the axial scan rate and imaging range required for 3D imaging. In order to record the images electronics operating at GHz bandwidth and GS/s is required together with efficient signal processing. The solution must be within clinical and economic constraints which require close collaboration in the total system design.

MHz A-scan rate SS-OCT imaging has been demonstrated and is ready to be implemented

Together with the Eurostars project partners Region Hovedstaden and Bern University of Applied Sciences MHz A-scan rate SS-OCT imaging has been demonstrated with OCTLIGHT VCSEL Swept Source. A complete OCT device has been built which incorporates the Swept Source with an OCT scan lens and a GS/s digitizer. With this OCT demonstrator OCT imaging at MHz A-scan rate has been demonstrated using a remap vector generated from a single A-scan. This allows for high throughput imaging for wider field-of-view retinal diagnostics OCT and OCT as well as real-time 3D OCT imaging for surgical guidance.

Opthalmology

How can full eye OCT imaging be used to improve cataract surgery?

How can Ophthalmic OCT imaging be advanced to improve diagnostics?

MHz A-scan rate SS-OCT imaging has been demonstrated and is ready to be implemented

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