Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT): New Insights in Ocular Research
May 04 2012
Ocular coherence tomography (OCT) provides 2-D and 3-D cross-sectional images of the eye. This functionality enables in vivo imaging of the retina, fundus and optic disc at multiple time points. OCT helps identify drug toxicity and efficacy by capturing morphologic changes, resulting in a better understanding of a drug’s longitudinal effect within the eye. For example, OCT makes it possible for changes in retinal cell layers to be measured and monitored. Anterior segment OCT allows for imaging of the anterior chamber, cornea, iris and lens and measurement of the iridocorneal angle (a key parameter in glaucoma management). These images can enhance in vivo microscopic evaluation and potentially reduce the number of animals required on study by using the same animals for repeated imaging, thus reducing the number of terminal time points.
As OCT is becoming more prevalent in clinical practice, its use in preclinical studies can also be translational, providing a link between effects observed in animals and human clinical trials.
Charles River Laboratories currently uses Zeiss Cirrus HD-OCT and Heidelberg Spectralis SD-OCT systems for fundus imaging. The images below provide a comparison between these two platforms with the third image highlighting the difference with a histologic retina section.
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