Anterior segment imaging for glaucoma: where are we and what next?

摘要

In 1991, Pavlin et al. described high-frequency ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) for the imaging of the anterior segment of the eye, revolutionizing the imaging of anterior chamber angle (ACA) structures. In the same year, Huang et al. described the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for medical imaging, a method now widely applied in ophthalmic imaging and diagnosis.In this issue of the journal, Dr See provides an overview of currently available anterior segment imaging devices commonly used in clinical and research settings. Four classes of instruments are discussed: time-domain anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT); slit scanning topography or scanning peripheral anterior chamber depth analyser (SPAC); UBM and Scheimpflug photography (Pentacam, Oculus Optikgerate GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany). For each of these imaging techniques, a description of the principles, advantages and disadvantages are presented.