| 摘要 |
A method and accompanying apparatus are provided for in vivo imaging of ocular tissue. In general, the method comprises providing a laser beam having an essentially planar configuration. The planar laser beam is directed through a cross-sectional portion of the ocular tissue, so as to illuminate the cross-sectional portion and cause the laser beam to be scattered by molecules in the ocular tissue. Then, at least a portion of the scattered laser light is detected so as to form a cross-sectional image of the ocular tissue. In general, the planar configured laser beam will have a slit-like cross-sectional dimension having essentially the same width dimension over the depth of field within which the largest depth dimension of the eye extends. These unique characteristics of the illumination beam permit the formation of clear, in-focus images detected at the image detection plane. The method and apparatus of the present invention can be used for objectively measuring the optical density of ocular tissue, as well as precisely measuring the physical dimension of ocular structures and their correct spatial relationships within the eye. In the case of the crystalline lens, the method and apparatus of the present invention can be utilized to produce in-focus cross-sectional images, from which the optical density of tissue comprising the lens can be precisely measured and thus the precise degree and location of cataract therewithin determined.
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