Adaptive-optics optical coherence tomography for high-resolution and high-speed 3D retinal in vivo imaging

We have combined Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) with a closed-loop adaptive optics (AO) system using a Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor and a bimorph deformable mirror. The adaptive optics system measures and corrects the wavefront aberration of the human eye for improved lateral resolution (similar to 4 mu m) of retinal images, while maintaining the high axial resolution (similar to 6 mu m) of stand alone OCT. The AO-OCT instrument enables the three-dimensional (3D) visualization of different retinal structures in vivo with high 3D resolution (4 x 4 x 6 mu m). Using this system, we have demonstrated the ability to image microscopic blood vessels and the cone photoreceptor mosaic. (c) 2005 Optical Society of America.