Abstract
Purpose: :
To demonstrate the capability of joint spectral and time domain optical coherence tomography to segment and visualize three-dimensional vascular structure of human eye in-vivo and to create velocity distribution maps of the retina. To demonstrate measurement protocols that allow for velocity distribution assessment with higher sensitivity then well established velocity estimation methods.
Methods: :
The specialized measurement protocols and advanced filtering techniques has been developed and applied to data obtained from healthy volunteers. Novel methods of analysis and visualization of the segmented vascular structure has been introduced. All data presented in this contribution are obtained with the prototype high-resolution, high-speed Spectral OCT system constructed at the Nicolaus Copernicus University operating on an every-day basis at the ophthalmology clinic of the Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Results: :
In vivo high-speed, ultrahigh resolution OCT imaging has been performed in 10 eyes of 5 healthy volunteers. In all cases the three-dimensional vascular net is segmented in the macular region of the retina as well as in the proximity of the optic disk. We also present two-dimensional fundus-like maps indicating the direction and velocity value of blood flow. These en-face maps are correlated with fundus photography.
Conclusions: :
Using three-dimensional joint spectral and time domain OCT and novel analysis tools we were able to segment volumes with blood flow. Due to the high sensitivity of the method, the blood flow not visible with other known velocity methods is also segmented. We believe that the novel technology can provide a better understanding of retinal functions. Our method enables significantly better visualization of three-dimensional vascular structure than was previously possible. It is also sensitive for small arteries and veins, which can be easily missed by other imaging technologies.
Keywords: retina • image processing