Hybrid Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Line Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope

Abstract

An apparatus for imaging an eye includes a housing and a system of optical components disposed in the housing. The apparatus is capable of operating in a line scanning laser ophthalmoscope (LSLO) mode and an optical coherence tomography (OCT) mode. The system of optical components can include a first source to provide a first beam of light for the OCT mode and a second source to provide a second beam of light for the LSLO mode. In the OCT mode, a first optic is used that (i) scans, using a first surface of the first optic, the first beam of light along a retina of an eye in a first dimension, and (ii) descans, using the first surface, a first light returning from the eye in the first dimension to a detection system in the OCT mode. In the LSLO mode, the first optic is used where the second beam of light passes through a second surface of the first optic.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of imaging a retina of an eye, comprising:
 combining an optical path of an optical coherence tomography (OCT) imager and an optical path of a line scanning laser ophthalmoscope (LSLO) imager using a system of optics;   using a single detector to switch between an OCT mode and a LSLO mode; and   acquiring images of the retina while switching between the OCT mode and the LSLO mode.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising interleaving a first series of images of the retina acquired in the OCT mode and a second series of images of the retina acquired in the LSLO mode. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the system of optics includes a controller, associated with the single detector, that switches the apparatus between the OCT mode and the LSLO mode to interleave acquisition of an OCT image of the eye and an LSLO image of the eye by the single detector. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the OCT imager comprises a spectral domain OCT imager. 
     
     
         5 . A method of imaging a retina of an eye, comprising:
 acquiring an OCT image of the eye by receiving, on a one-dimensional detector, a first light returning from the eye and providing a first electrical signal responsive to the first light at each of a plurality of locations along the one-dimensional detector, the first electrical signal combined with a reference signal from a reference arm, the first electrical signal and the reference signal associated with the OCT image of the eye;   acquiring a LSLO image of the eye by receiving, on the one-dimensional detector, a second light returning from the eye and providing a second electrical signal responsive to the second light at each of a plurality of locations along the one-dimensional detector, the second electrical signal indicative of the LSLO image of the eye; and   interleaving acquisition of the OCT image of the eye and the LSLO image of the eye.