Corneal Sublayers Thickness Estimation Obtained by High-Resolution FD-OCT

Abstract

This paper presents a novel processing technique which can be applied to corneal in vivo images obtained with optical coherence tomograms across the central meridian of the cornea. The method allows to estimate the thickness of the corneal sublayers (Epithelium, Bowman's layer, Stroma, Endothelium, and whole corneal thickness) at any location, including the center and the midperiphery, on both nasal and temporal sides. The analysis is carried out on both the pixel and subpixel scales to reduce the uncertainty in thickness estimations. This technique allows quick and noninvasive assessment of patients. As an example of application and validation, we present the results obtained from the analysis of 52 healthy subjects, each with 3 scans per eye, for a total of more than 300 images. Particular attention has been paid to the statistical interpretation of the obtained results to find a representative assessment of each sublayer's thickness.

Collagens and proteoglycans of the cornea: importance in transparency and visual disorders

“…It is immediately in contact with the tear film and the external environment. It represents approximately 8 % of the overall corneal thickness (Alberto and Garello 2013) and is a stratified squamous epithelium. It is composed of three cell layers: the basal (columnar) cell layer, the intermediate (wing/polyhedral) cell layer, and the superficial (squamous) cell layer.…”

“…It has a thickness of around 17 μm in human (Alberto and Garello 2013). This structure does not regenerate after injury.…”

“…Its precise role is still unknown. It could play a barrier function to protect against epithelio-stromal interactions and/or protect the stroma from injury (Alberto and Garello 2013). …”

“…The corneal stroma corresponds to the intermediate layer of the corneal structure and represents about 86 % of the overall corneal thickness (Alberto and Garello 2013). It is a connective tissue mainly composed of a collagen matrix in which mesenchymal cells, the keratocytes, are embedded.…”

The Use of Digital Microscopy to Compare the Thicknesses of Normal Corneas and Ex Vivo Rejected Corneal Grafts with a Focus on the Descemet’s Membrane

“…With the advent of new high-resolution corneal computed tomography (HR-OCT) scans, other researchers have investigated methods for early detection of corneal rejection and/or failure, performing detailed analysis of corneal thickness [11–16]. Digital imaging technologies has also been revolutionizing medicine through the initiation of histopathology scanners and processors, making the process faster and the possibility of using new analysis tools [17, 18].…”