We demonstrate swept source OCT utilizing vertical-cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL)
technology for in vivo high speed retinal, anterior segment and full eye imaging.
The MEMS tunable VCSEL enables long coherence length, adjustable spectral sweep range and adjustable
high sweeping rate (50–580 kHz axial scan rate). These features enable integration of
multiple ophthalmic applications into one instrument. The operating modes of the device include:
ultrahigh speed, high resolution retinal imaging (up to 580 kHz); high speed, long depth range
anterior segment imaging (100 kHz) and ultralong range full eye imaging (50 kHz). High speed imaging
enables wide-field retinal scanning, while increased light penetration at 1060 nm enables
visualization of choroidal vasculature. Comprehensive volumetric data sets of the anterior segment
from the cornea to posterior crystalline lens surface are also shown. The adjustable VCSEL sweep
range and rate make it possible to achieve an extremely long imaging depth range of ~50 mm, and to
demonstrate the first in vivo 3D OCT imaging spanning the entire eye for
non-contact measurement of intraocular distances including axial eye length. Swept source OCT with
VCSEL technology may be attractive for next generation integrated ophthalmic OCT instruments.