Purpose: To describe key developments of optical biometry and optical coherence tomography (OCT) for ophthalmic applications made by one of the pioneering research groups.
Methods: Partial coherence interferometry (PCI) as the basic ranging technology for modern optical biometry and for OCT was introduced for biomedical applications in the 1980s. Later, Fourier domain (FD) OCT was introduced and demonstrated to provide superior sensitivity as compared to time domain OCT. Further developments comprised ultrahigh-resolution OCT and deep-penetration OCT at wavelengths of approximately 1050 nm. Important functional extensions comprise Doppler OCT/OCT angiography, polarization-sensitive OCT, and adaptive optics OCT.
Results: High-precision PCI biometry has found extensive applications in cataract surgery and in research on intraocular lens design. Optical coherence tomography, especially in the second-generation variant of FD OCT, is now indispensable for ocular diagnostics in general and for retinal diagnostics in particular; 1050 nm OCT shows improved penetration into deeper layers like the choroid.
Conclusions: The contributions of the Vienna research group helped to establish PCI biometry and FD OCT as the gold standards in their respective fields.