Retinal pigment epithelium pathologies investigated with phase resolved polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography

M. Pircher; E. Goetzinger; O. Findl; S. Michels; W. Geitzenauer; U. Schmidt-Erfurth; C. K. Hitzenberger

doi:10.1117/12.648348

7 March 2006 Retinal pigment epithelium pathologies investigated with phase resolved polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography

M. Pircher, E. Goetzinger, O. Findl, S. Michels, W. Geitzenauer, U. Schmidt-Erfurth, C. K. Hitzenberger

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 6138, Ophthalmic Technologies XVI; 61380I (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.648348
Event: SPIE BiOS, 2006, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

A polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) instrument was used to investigate the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The instrument uses the polarization properties of light to record backscattered intensity, retardation and fast axis orientation simultaneously and needs only one measurement per sample location to retrieve these parameters. The polarization state of light backscattered from within the RPE was found to be random. This can be observed in PS-OCT images by random retardation and axis orientation values within the RPE layer. In diseased eyes where the normal retinal structure is corrupted (e.g. RPE atrophy, RPE detachment) the localization of the RPE within OCT images which do not provide polarization information (standard OCT) is rather difficult. Since the RPE is the only structure within the retina to cause this polarization scrambling, PS-OCT can be used for contrast enhancement and enables the exact localization of the RPE in these pathologies. Therefore it is possible to determine if the RPE is still preserved in regions of interest. Furthermore, in patients with RPE atrophy an enhanced penetration depth into the choroid and even into the sclera was observed. Because of birefringence introduced by the sclera the border between choroid and sclera could easily be determined.

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M. Pircher, E. Goetzinger, O. Findl, S. Michels, W. Geitzenauer, U. Schmidt-Erfurth, and C. K. Hitzenberger "Retinal pigment epithelium pathologies investigated with phase resolved polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography", Proc. SPIE 6138, Ophthalmic Technologies XVI, 61380I (7 March 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.648348

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KEYWORDS

Polarization

Optical coherence tomography

Retina

Sclera

Birefringence

Pathology

Cornea

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