ABSTRACT

This chapter presents state-of-the-art anterior segment-optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) technology and its applications in visualization of both structure and functions of the AS of the eye. It reviews clinical OCT systems for AS imaging. The chapter demonstrates the main research directions in the field of AS-OCT including the results of clinical studies. The idea of OCT is analogous to that of ultrasound imaging. OCT detects photons that are back reflected or backscattered at the interfaces of the imaged object. The effect of light backscattering is caused by the nonhomogeneity of the optical properties of the object. Depth profiles are generated by measuring the amplitude and echo time delay of backscattered light. The most important parameters that drive the OCT performance include imaging speed, depth range, resolution, and sensitivity. The AS of the eye is composed of tissues that have different scattering properties, and optimum light delivery to deeper layers depends on the wavelength of the light source.