Optical coherence tomography of the retinal response to ultrashort laser pulses

Purpose: to assess the early in vivo evolution of tissue response and wound healing from ultrashort pulsed laser retinal lesions by correlating the cross sectional morphology from sequential optical coherence tomography with histopathologic sectioning. Methods: single ultrashort laser pulses were placed in the Macacca mulatta retina and evaluated by cross-section optical coherence tomography (OCT). These images were compared at selected time-points with corresponding histological sections. Results: OCT was able to detect the acute tissue injury from laser delivery and the evolution of the healing response over 8 days after laser delivery. These OCT images correlated well with histopathologic findings. Conclusion: analysis of the extent of initial laser lesions and the type of healing response can be performed in serial sequence with OCT providing new insight into the healing response form laser injury. This information correlates well with microscopic data.

Duke Scholars

Author Cynthia Ann Toth Ophthalmology, Vitreoretinal Diseases & Surgery