title: Three-dimensional 1060-nm OCT: choroidal thickness maps in normal subjects and improved posterior segment visualization in cataract patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the performance and potential clinical role of three-dimensional (3D) 1060-nm OCT by generating choroidal thickness (ChT) maps in patients of different ages with different degrees of ametropia and axial lengths and to investigate the effect of cataract grade on OCT retinal imaging quality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Axial lengths (ALs) and 45° fundus photographs were acquired from 64 eyes (34 healthy subjects, 19 to 80 years, ametropia +3 to -10 D). 3D 1060-nm OCT was performed over a 36° × 36° field of view with ∼7-μm axial resolution and up to 70 frames/s (512 A-scans/frame). ChT maps between retinal pigment epithelium and the choroidal-scleral interface, were generated and statistically analyzed. A further 30 eyes (19 subjects), with cataracts assessed with the LOCS III scale, were imaged with 3D 1060-nm OCT and 800-nm OCT, and visualization of the posterior segment was compared qualitatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 64 eyes, ChT maps displayed a thickness decrease with increasing AL. Subfoveal ChT was 315 ± 106 μm (mean ± SD), negatively correlated with AL (R(2) = -0.47, P < 0.001). Averaged ChT maps of eyes with AL < 23.39 mm showed an increased ChT in an area ∼1500 μm inferior, compared with subfoveal ChT. Eyes with AL > 24.5 mm showed a larger variation and a thicker ChT superiorly than inferiorly. Reduced signal strength in cataractous eyes was found in 65% of the 800-nm OCT images, but in only 10% of the 1060-nm OCT images.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The imaging performance of 3D 1060-nm OCT is unique, producing maps that show the variation in ChT over the entire field of view, in relation to axial length. This imaging system has the potential of visualizing a novel clinical diagnostic biomarker. Compared with 800-nm OCT, it provides superior visualization of the posterior pole in cataractous eyes.
authors.affiliation: School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Marieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esmaeelpour
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Povazay
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hermann
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hofer
authors.forename: Vedran
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kajic
authors.forename: Ketan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kapoor
authors.forename: Nik J L
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Sheen
authors.forename: Rachel V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: North
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Drexler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000886:Anthropometry; D001699:Biometry; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications*; D002829:Choroid / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D012016:Reference Values; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D055815:Young Adult