Adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscope imaging: technology update

Abstract

Adaptive optics (AO) retinal imaging has become very popular in the past few years, especially within the ophthalmic research community. Several different retinal techniques, such as fundus imaging cameras or optical coherence tomography systems, have been coupled with AO in order to produce impressive images showing individual cell mosaics over different layers of the in vivo human retina. The combination of AO with scanning laser ophthalmoscopy has been extensively used to generate impressive images of the human retina with unprecedented resolution, showing individual photoreceptor cells, retinal pigment epithelium cells, as well as microscopic capillary vessels, or the nerve fiber layer. Over the past few years, the technique has evolved to develop several different applications not only in the clinic but also in different animal models, thanks to technological developments in the field. These developments have specific applications to different fields of investigation, which are not limited to the study of retinal diseases but also to the understanding of the retinal function and vision science. This review is an attempt to summarize these developments in an understandable and brief manner in order to guide the reader into the possibilities that AO scanning laser ophthalmoscopy offers, as well as its limitations, which should be taken into account when planning on using it.

Adaptive Optiken – Möglichkeiten für die Diagnostik hereditärer Netzhauterkrankungen

“…B. STED (Stimulation Emission Depletion) oder PALM (Lokalisationsmikroskopie nach Photoaktivierung). Heute werden AO in der Ophthalmoskopie in 3 bildgebenden Modalitäten eingesetzt: in der Fundusfotografie [3], der Scanning-Laser-Ophthalmoskopie (SLO) [15,16] und der optischen Kohärenztomografie (OCT) [17,18]. Nur die ersten beiden Modalitäten sind bisher als kommerzielle Produkte erhältlich (rtx1, Imagine Eyes, Orsay, France; Apaeros Retinal Imaging System, Boston Micromachines, Cambridge, MA, USA; CAORI, Physical Sciences Inc., Andover, MA, USA; Canon Inc., Tokyo, Japan).…”

Adaptive Optics for Photoreceptor-Targeted Psychophysics

“…A key advance was introduced in 1994 by employing a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor to continuously measure ocular aberrations [15], and the first AO-ophthalmoscope that was able to correct higher order aberrations based on measurement of the ocular wavefront in closed-loop operation was demonstrated in 1997 [16]. The introduction of adaptive optics in ophthalmoscopy marked the birth of a new generation of high resolution retinal imaging devices, and today, 20 years after its first appearance, AO for the eye is available, partly commercially, in three main imaging modalities: fundus photography [16,17], optical coherence tomography [18,19], and scanning laser ophthalmoscopy [20,21].…”

“…For retinal imaging, AO is employed in three main imaging modalities: flood illumination ophthalmoscopy [16], in combination with an SLO [20,21], or with OCT [18,19]. All three modalities have complementary advantages for retinal imaging and all are of great clinical relevance since microscopic retinal structures become vis-ible in the living subject [49][50][51].…”

Principles of Adaptive Optics and Clinical Applications

“…Fig. 3에서 보는 바와 같이 시세포층은 다른 망막층에 비 하여 산란이 더 많이 되어 AO-SLO에서의 관찰이 더 용이하 다 [16]. 게다가 단층화를 이용하여 나이 관련 황반 변성 등 드 루젠과 관련하여 시세포층의 동반된 변화를 가져오는 다양한 질환을 연구하는 데 도움을 받을 수 있다 [3,4].…”