Abstract

A lens system was designed and incorporated into a prototype Rodenstock scanninglaser ophthalmoscope, which provided additional magnification of retinal structures and further narrowing of optical sections. The lens system increased the effective numerical aperture of the eye. In addition, smaller pinholes were used for the confocal aperture. The optical-section thickness was measured by using an artificial eye and positioning an artificial retina near the plane of focus under micrometer control. The digitized images were averaged over a central area of 16 × 16 pixels, and intensity was measured as a function of "retinal" position. The results showed that sections with half-widths < 70μm could be achieved. An infrared diodelaser was used to image the living human retina with this system. The maximum retinal irradiance was calculated to be within the standards of the American National Standards Institute. High-magnification images of the retina were acquired at different section depths. These results suggest that it is possible to image the microscopic structure of the living human retina. This may be useful in characterizing and studying microanatomical and functional alterations (measured by high-resolution SLO perimetry) in the human retina.

© 1990 Optical Society of America