Microscope-integrated Intraoperative Optical Coherence Tomography for Anterior Segment Surgical Maneuvers

PURPOSE: To evaluate the potential value of microscope-integrated optical coherence tomography (MI-OCT) in anterior segment surgical maneuvers. METHODS: Twenty-four ophthalmology residents, who were randomly and evenly divided into two groups, performed four anterior segment surgical maneuvers (corneal tunnel, scleral tunnel, simple corneal suture, and corneal laceration repair) on porcine eyes with (group B) or without (group A) real-time MI-OCT feedback. All residents performed the maneuvers again without MI-OCT. RESULTS: Compared with group A, group B (with MI-OCT) showed better accuracy in the length/depth of the corneal tunnel and the length of the scleral tunnel. However, both groups showed similar performances in the depth of both the simple corneal suture and the corneal laceration suture. When both groups performed the maneuvers again without MI-OCT, group B still showed better results than group A for the length of both the corneal and scleral tunnels. CONCLUSIONS: Primary results suggest that real-time MI-OCT images are valuable for some anterior segment surgical maneuvers and could be helpful in surgical training. TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE: MI-OCT systems can be valuable in improving accuracy and decision making during anterior segment surgery and will be useful in surgical training.