title: Adaptive optics optical coherence tomography at 120,000 depth scans/s for non-invasive cellular phenotyping of the living human retina.
abstract: This paper presents a successful combination of ultra-high speed (120,000 depth scans/s), ultra-high resolution optical coherence tomography with adaptive optics and an achromatizing lens for compensation of monochromatic and longitudinal chromatic ocular aberrations, respectively, allowing for non-invasive volumetric imaging in normal and pathologic human retinas at cellular resolution. The capability of this imaging system is demonstrated here through preliminary studies by probing cellular intraretinal structures that have not been accessible so far with in vivo, non-invasive, label-free imaging techniques, including pigment epithelial cells, micro-vasculature of the choriocapillaris, single nerve fibre bundles and collagenous plates of the lamina cribrosa in the optic nerve head. In addition, the volumetric extent of cone loss in two colour-blinds could be quantified for the first time. This novel technique provides opportunities to enhance the understanding of retinal pathogenesis and early diagnosis of retinal diseases.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Imaging Group, School of Optometry & Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4LU, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Torti
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Povazay
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hofer
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Unterhuber
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: Peter Kurt
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Ahnelt
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Drexler
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007909:Lenses; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D042261:Retinoscopes; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000295:instrumentation*