WASHINGTON, Nov. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- An article
published in Experimental Biology and Medicine (Volume 245,
Issue 18, December
2020) describes improvements for noninvasive
imaging of the eye. The study, led by Dr. Cuixia Dai in the College of Sciences at the
Shanghai Institute of Technology in Shanghai (China), reports that optical clearing agents
are safe and improve optical coherence tomography imaging of the
eye in an animal model.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging
technique used for high-resolution imaging of biomedical
tissues. In recent years, it has become a clinical standard
for diagnosing and monitoring the treatment of eye
diseases. However, biological tissues scatter and absorb light
which restricts light penetration and imaging depth. Optical
clearing agents have been used to enhance light penetration in
numerous tissues but information regarding their effectiveness and
safety in the eye is limited. Increased imaging depth would
expand the use of OCT in ophthalmology to include intra-orbital
tumors, orbital cellulitis, ocular fasciitis, inflammatory
pseudotumor, and angiocavernoma.
In this study, Dr. Dai and colleagues evaluated the effects of
the optical clearing agent glycerol on imaging depth for optical
coherence tomography (OCT) in ex vivo and in vivo rabbit
eyes. Topical application and intra-oribital injection of
glycerol optically cleared both the anterior and posterior segments
of the eye, allowing visualization of the sclera, iris, ciliary
body and suspensory ligament. The posterior sclera and
intra-orbital tissues were also successfully visualized. The
ex vivo eyes recovered to their original state after saline-wash
treatment, and in vivo eyes exhibited normal OCT images and vision
after self-recovery. These findings indicate that optical
clearing agents may safely expand the use OTC in
ophthalmology.
Dr. Steven R. Goodman,
Editor-in-Chief of Experimental Biology & Medicine,
said, "Dr. Dai and colleagues have extended the imaging depth of
optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the anterior and posterior
segments of the eye by using a glycerol containing optical clearing
solution. This will be helpful for future utilization of OCT for
diagnosis of eye diseases and monitoring the efficacy of
treatments."
Experimental Biology and Medicine is a global journal
dedicated to the publication of multidisciplinary and
interdisciplinary research in the biomedical sciences. The journal
was first established in 1903. Experimental Biology and
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