Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: We reported a new imaging device that combines simultaneously OCT and SLO images in a single instrument, and reported its usefulness to analyze the pathology of the retina and other ocular structures with the resolution of 10 – 14 micrometer. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of new 3–D OCT/SLO system with the resolution of 7.4 micron. Methods: Fourteen eyes of 14 patients including macular hole, age–related macular degeneration ,diabetic macular edema,and hight myopia were included in this study. Unlike a conventional SLO, the combined device can operate in a so–called "transversal" and yields OCT images originating at the same axes and plane as the retina. The system also scans laterally along a line to the retina to produce cross–sectional longitudinal OCT images as the Humphrey’s system. Results: This new high–resolution device precisely demonstrated the structures of the retinal layers. One weak reflection line from external limiting membrane and three strong reflection lines from retinal pigment epithelium layers, the outer layers of rod and cone layer, and Bruch’s membrane were clearly detected in the deeper retinal layers in eyes with normals, macular hole, age–related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, and high myopia in different fashion of each pathology. Conclusions: For the first time this new technology with improvement of the resolution of 7.4 micron enabled us to observe the deeper retinal structures in detail. This clinically available technique (short examination time, etc.) would be very useful to examine the pathology of various kinds of vitreoretinal disorders, for particularly around retinal pigment epithelium layers such as age–related macular degeneration.
Keywords: imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound) • imaging/image analysis: clinical • retina