Imaging Depth Extension Of Optical Coherence Tomography In Rabbit Eyes Using Optical Clearing Agents

Optical coherence tomography has become an indispensable diagnostic tool in ophthalmology for imaging the retina and the anterior segment of the eye. However, the imaging depth of optical coherence tomography is limited by light attenuation in tissues due to optical scattering and absorption. In this study of rabbit eye bothex vivoandin vivo, optical coherence tomography imaging depth of the anterior and posterior segments of the eye was extended by using optical clearing agents to reduce multiple scattering. The sclera, the iris, and the ciliary body were clearly visualized by direct application of glycerol at an incision on the conjunctiva, and the posterior boundary of sclera and even the deeper tissues were detected by submerging the posterior segment of eye in glycerol solutionex vivoor by retro-bulbar injection of glycerolin vivo. Theex vivorabbit eyes recovered to their original state in 60 s after saline-wash treatment, and normal optical coherence tomography images of the posterior segment of the sample eyes proved the self-recovery ofin vivoperformance. Signal intensities of optical coherence tomography images obtained before and after glycerol treatment were compared to analysis of the effect of optical clearing. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study for imaging depth extension of optical coherence tomography in both the anterior and posterior segments of eye by using optical clearing agents. Impact statement Imaging depth of optical coherence tomography in ophthalmology is limited by light attenuation in tissues due to inherent optical scattering and absorption. In this study, imaging depth of the anterior and posterior segments of rabbit eyes was extended by using optical clearing agents to reduce multiple scattering. This study may provide a potential method for ophthalmic research, such as accommodation, ocular growth, and biometry of the eye, and for diagnosis of posterior scleritis and intra-orbital tumor, such as orbital cavernous hemangioma, optic nerve glioma, and inflammatory pseudotumor.