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Adaptive Optics Technology for High-Resolution Retinal Imaging

Marco Lombardo, Sebastiano Serrao, Nicholas Devaney, Mariacristina Parravano, and Giuseppe Lombardo
Sensors (Basel). 2013 Jan; 13(1): 334–366. Published online 2012 Dec 27. doi: 10.3390/s130100334
PMID: 23271600
PMCID: PMC3574679
This article has been cited by other articles in PMC.

Abstract

Adaptive optics (AO) is a technology used to improve the performance of optical systems by reducing the effects of optical aberrations. The direct visualization of the photoreceptor cells, capillaries and nerve fiber bundles represents the major benefit of adding AO to retinal imaging. Adaptive optics is opening a new frontier for clinical research in ophthalmology, providing new information on the early pathological changes of the retinal microstructures in various retinal diseases. We have reviewed AO technology for retinal imaging, providing information on the core components of an AO retinal camera. The most commonly used wavefront sensing and correcting elements are discussed. Furthermore, we discuss current applications of AO imaging to a population of healthy adults and to the most frequent causes of blindness, including diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. We conclude our work with a discussion on future clinical prospects for AO retinal imaging.

Keywords: adaptive optical systems, optical sensors, biomedical imaging techniques, eye