[Methodological advancements. Ultrahigh-resolution OCT].
Development of ultrabroad bandwidth light sources has recently enabled significant improvement of ophthalmic axial OCT imaging resolution, demonstrating the potential of ultrahigh resolution OCT (UHR OCT) to perform noninvasive optical biopsy, i.e., the in vivo visualization of microstructural morphology in situ, which had previously only been possible with histopathology. Therefore, UHR OCT allows detection of intraretinal changes that can be used for diagnosis of retinal disease in its early stages when treatment is most effective and irreversible damage can be prevented or delayed. Furthermore, it may provide a better understanding of the pathogenesis of several macular pathologies as well as contribute to the development of new therapy approaches. Future developments of ophthalmic OCT include high speed, three-dimensional retinal imaging, combining adaptive optics and UHR OCT, spatially resolved spectroscopic OCT, functional imaging, and OCT imaging with enhanced penetration into the choroid by employing novel wavelength regions.
Institut für Medizinische Physik, Christian-Doppler-Labor, Medizinische Universität, Wien, Osterreich. wolfgang.drexler@meduniwien.ac.at
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D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*