Imaging the ocular anterior segment with real-time, full-range Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography.

We have demonstrated a novel Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography system and signal-processing algorithm for full-range, real-time, artifact-free quantitative imaging of the anterior chamber. Cross-sectional full-range images comprising 1024 x 800 pixels (axial x lateral) were acquired and displayed at 6.7 images/s. Volumetric data comprising 1024 x 400 x 60 pixels (axial x lateral x elevation) were acquired in 4.5 seconds with real-time visualization of individual slices and 3-dimensional reconstruction performed in postprocessing. Details of the cornea, limbus, iris, anterior lens capsule, trabecular meshwork, and Schlemm's canal were visualized. Quantitative surface height maps of the corneal epithelium and endothelium were obtained from the volumetric data and used to generate corneal thickness maps.