Enhanced imaging of choroidal vasculature by high-penetration and dual-velocity optical coherence angiography

Dual-beam-scan Doppler optical coherence angiography (DBOCA) with a 1-mu m-wavelength probe is demonstrated for improved in vivo choroidal angiograms of the human eye. This method utilizes two scanning beams with spatial and temporal separation on the retina, and provides two measurable velocity ranges. The method achieves higher sensitivity to very low velocity flows than conventional Doppler optical coherence tomography. Moreover, longer wavelengths allowing greater penetration, enhanced visualization of choroidal vessels is verified with en-face projection images of the Doppler shift squared. Specifically, better choroidal vasculature visibility is achieved at a wavelength of 1 mu m than at 840 nm. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America