Retinal imaging with polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography and adaptive optics

Abstract

Various layers of the retina are well known to alter the polarization state of light. Such changes in polarization may be a sensitive indicator of tissue structure and function, and as such have gained increased clinical attention. Here we demonstrate a polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) system that incorporates adaptive optics (AO) in the sample arm and a single line scan camera in the detection arm. We quantify the benefit of AO for PS-OCT in terms of signal-to-noise, lateral resolution, and speckle size. Double pass phase retardation per unit depth values ranging from 0.25°/µm to 0.65°/µm were found in the birefringent nerve fiber layer at 6° eccentricity, superior to the fovea, with the highest values being noticeably higher than previously reported with PS-OCT around the optic nerve head. Moreover, fast axis orientation and degree of polarization uniformity measurements made with AO-PS-OCT demonstrate polarization scrambling in the retinal pigment epithelium at the highest resolution reported to date. Boer, "In vivo high-resolution video-rate spectral-domain optical coherence tomography of the human retina and optic nerve," Opt. ©2009 Optical Society of America

Henle fiber layer phase retardation measured with polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography

“…In comparison to the previous design, the Wollaston prism was positioned between the collimator and the grating, so that a smaller sized and therefore less expensive Wollaston prism could be used [15]. The instrument records depth-resolved intensity and birefringence simultaneously.…”

Cellular Level Imaging of the Retina Using Optical Coherence Tomography

“…PS-OCT measures the intensity and polarization state in tissue, thus allowing depth resolve imaging of birefringent retinal structures such as the RNFL. The PS-OCT system designed by Cense et al (2009b) utilized a dual DM AOsubsystem. The group deduced the improvement in signal contrast and resolution with AO allowed for a more sensitive measurement of change in phase retardation and hence birefringence (Cense et al, 2009b).…”

“…The PS-OCT system designed by Cense et al (2009b) utilized a dual DM AOsubsystem. The group deduced the improvement in signal contrast and resolution with AO allowed for a more sensitive measurement of change in phase retardation and hence birefringence (Cense et al, 2009b). With this system, the group was able to quantify birefringence of thin retinal nerve fiber bundles in the macula lutea, not measurable with standard PS-OCT (Cense et al, 2009b).…”

“…The group deduced the improvement in signal contrast and resolution with AO allowed for a more sensitive measurement of change in phase retardation and hence birefringence (Cense et al, 2009b). With this system, the group was able to quantify birefringence of thin retinal nerve fiber bundles in the macula lutea, not measurable with standard PS-OCT (Cense et al, 2009b). As AO becomes widely implemented, it is expected that more AO will be integrated in other forms of OCT.…”

3-D Ultrahigh Resolution Optical Coherence Tomography with Adaptive Optics for Ophthalmic Imaging

“…Zawadzki, et al 2007). Barry Cense et al combined polarizationsensitive optical coherence tomography with adaptive optics to research birefringent of nerve fiber laye (Barry Cense, et al, 2009). The 3-D image of retinal photoreceptor has been achieved in vivo which is shown in Fig.…”