Optical coherence tomography of the human retina

Abstract

Objective: To demonstrate optical coherence tomography for high-resolution, noninvasive imaging of the human retina. Optical coherence tomography is a new imaging technique analogous to ultrasound B scan that can provide cross-sectional images of the retina with micrometer-scale resolution.

Design: Survey optical coherence tomographic examination of the retina, including the macula and optic nerve head in normal human subjects.

Setting: Research laboratory.

Participants: Convenience sample of normal human subjects.

Main outcome measures: Correlation of optical coherence retinal tomographs with known normal retinal anatomy.

Results: Optical coherence tomographs can discriminate the cross-sectional morphologic features of the fovea and optic disc, the layered structure of the retina, and normal anatomic variations in retinal and retinal nerve fiber layer thicknesses with 10-microns depth resolution.

Conclusion: Optical coherence tomography is a potentially useful technique for high depth resolution, cross-sectional examination of the fundus.