Repository of DUTH

Literature review: Principles and clinical applications of swept-source OCT and swept-source OCTA (Master thesis)

Στάθη, Θεοδώρα/ Stathi, Theodora

The advent of OCT revolutionized Ophthalmology, because it enabled the non-invasive imaging of the entire eye in vivo and in real time. Methods Due to the rapid development of technology, OCT is being constantly evolved and upgraded, incorporating swept source technology nowadays. SS-OCT provides the opportunity of detailed imaging of the ocular anatomical structures with higher resolution allowing faster acquisition times, due to its longer wavelength compared to SD-OCT. Also it offers the ability of incorporated angiography (SS-OCTA). Results. Thus it facilitates better and more detailed visualization with a larger field of view of the deeper structures and vasculature under the retinal pigmented epithelium such as the choroid, for study purposes. This fact has not been possible with the conventional OCT until now. Furthermore, it has shown the ability to simultaneously provide imaging of the vitreous, retina, choroid and sclero-choroidal boundary, as well as the area of the optic nerve and the macula, while depicting the retinal and choroidal vasculature in great detail. Additionally, its ability of deeper tissue penetration, due to its longer wavelength, the faster acquisition time and the reduced imaging artifacts, allow the 360° scan of the anterior segment, offering a detailed visualization of the anatomical structures and its vasculature.Conclusions. Therefore SS-OCT and SS-OCTA constitute ideal non-invasive imaging methods for the study of ocular pathologies concerning both anterior and posterior segment. By virtue of their many advantages and despite the high cost, they are being applied more and more widely in research and clinical practice. In conclusion it is believed that they will contribute to a better understanding of the eye disorders aiming at better therapeutic and surgical decisions to be made in order for the ophthalmic diseases to be treated.