title: Ultrahigh-resolution OCT imaging of the human cornea.
abstract: We present imaging of corneal pathologies using optical coherence tomography (OCT) with high resolution. To this end, an ultrahigh-resolution spectral domain OCT (UHR-OCT) system based on a broad bandwidth Ti:sapphire laser is employed. With a central wavelength of 800 nm, the imaging device allows to acquire OCT data at the central, paracentral and peripheral cornea as well as the limbal region with 1.2 µm x 20 µm (axial x lateral) resolution at a rate of 140 000 A-scans/s. Structures of the anterior segment of the eye, not accessible with commercial OCT systems, are visualized. These include corneal nerves, limbal palisades of Vogt as well as several corneal pathologies. Cases such as keratoconus and Fuchs's endothelial dystrophy as well as infectious changes caused by diseases like Acanthamoeba keratitis and scarring after herpetic keratitis are presented. We also demonstrate the applicability of our system to visualize epithelial erosion and intracorneal foreign body after corneal trauma as well as chemical burns. Finally, results after Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) are imaged. These clinical cases show the potential of UHR-OCT to help in clinical decision-making and follow-up. Our results and experience indicate that UHR-OCT of the cornea is a promising technique for the use in clinical practice, but can also help to gain novel insight in the physiology and pathophysiology of the human cornea.
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; Christian Doppler Laboratory for Ocular and Dermal Effects of Thiomers, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: René M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Werkmeister
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; Singapore Eye Research Institute The Academia, 20 College Road, Discovery Tower Level 6, 169856, Singapore.
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sapeta
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Doreen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schmidl
authors.affiliation: Christian Doppler Laboratory for Ocular and Dermal Effects of Thiomers, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garhöfer
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schmidinger
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Valentin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Aranha Dos Santos
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Gerold C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Aschinger
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baumgartner
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Niklas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pircher
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics and Intelligent Systems, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schwarzhans
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Gr. T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Sf. Spiridon University Hospital, 16 Universitatii Str, Iasi, 700115, Romania.
authors.forename: Anca
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pantalon
authors.affiliation: Academic Section of Ophthalmology, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust QMC campus, Derby Road, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK.
authors.forename: Harminder
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dua
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; Christian Doppler Laboratory for Ocular and Dermal Effects of Thiomers, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; Singapore Eye Research Institute The Academia, 20 College Road, Discovery Tower Level 6, 169856, Singapore; Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Novena Campus, 11 Mandalay Road, 308232, Singapore.
authors.forename: Leopold
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schmetterer
keywords: (170.0110) Imaging systems; (170.4460) Ophthalmic optics and devices; (170.4500) Optical coherence tomography