Imaging depth extension of optical coherence tomography by optical clearing method in vitro rabbit eye

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive, non-contact imaging technique, which is an indispensable diagnostic tool in ophthalmology. However, light attenuation in opaque tissues of the eye limits the imaging depth of OCT. In this study, the imaging depth of rabbit eye in vitro was extended by reduction of multiple scattering by using tissue optical clearing (TOC) agents. Results showed that with the application of glycerol in anterior segment, boundaries of ciliary muscle could be obviously differentiated. For posterior segment, the retina, the choroid, the sclera and even the eye container were also clearly imaged. All the physiology change by glycerol was recovered by a direct wash of saline in a short time.