Optical Coherence Tomography and Histology of the Optic Nerve and Retina

Abstract

Purpose: : To compare optical coherence tomography (OCT) cross-sectional tomographs of the optic nerve and human retina in vivo with histology to determine the relationship between OCT and optic nerve/ retinal substructure

Methods: : OCT tomographs (Heidelberg, Spectralis) of 5 microns axial resolution were obtained of the optic nerve and retina in vivo from 4 patients. Each patient subsequently underwent enucleation for blind painful eyes or choiroidal melanoma. The eyes were sectioned horizontally and 5 micron sections obtained and aligned with the OCT scans. This allowed comparison of the corresponding images.

Results: : Close correlation was observed between OCT scans and histology in both the retina and optic nerve. There is good correspondance between the bands observed on OCT scans and anatomical structures seen on histology of the optic nerve and retina.

Conclusions: : OCT tomograms of human optic nerve and retina provide valuable information on morphology in vivo. Good correlation was observed between OCT scans and corresponding histological sections and hence OCT could be used as a potential surrogate for retinal histology in vivo.

Keywords: imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound) • optic nerve • retina