Adaptive Optics Ophthalmic Technology – What is it and how do we use it?

Abstract: The eye is unique because the cornea and lens provide an optical window through which we can observe the retina. However, optical aberrations in the cornea and lens limit the resolution and contrast with which we can observe retinal features. Image resolution can be improved to the diffraction limit by incorporating adaptive optics technology. Adaptive optics employs a wavefront sensor to measure the eye’s optical aberrations and a wavefront corrector, such as a deformable mirror, to compensate for these aberrations. Numerous retinal cell types can be observed with this technology including the cone and rod photoreceptor mosaics and the retinal pigment epithelial mosaic. Adaptive optics also allows non-invasive visualization of retinal blood flow, the finest parafoveal capillaries, nerve fiber layer bundles, and allows functional assessment of the retina at the cellular level. Here I will give an overview of adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy technology and its applications to basic and clinical research.