Wide-field retinal hemodynamic imaging with the tracking scanning laser ophthalmoscope

Real time, high-speed image stabilization with a retinal tracking scanning laser ophthalmoscope (TSLO) enables new approaches to established diagnostics. Large frequency range ( DC to 19 kHz), wide-field (40-deg) stabilized Doppler flowmetry imaging was demonstrated in initial human subject tests. The fundus imaging method is a quasi-confocal line-scanning laser ophthalmoscope (LSLO). The retinal tracking system uses a confocal reflectometer with a closed loop optical servo system to lock onto features in the ocular fundus and automatically re-lock after blinks. By performing a slow scan with the laser line imager, frequency-resolved retinal perfusion and vascular flow images were obtained free of eye motion artifacts. Normal adult subjects and patients were tested with and without mydriasis to characterize flow imaging performance. (C) 2004 Optical Society of America.