High-resolution visible light OCT of the human retina with combined superluminescent diodes

High-resolution Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) requires broadband, spatially coherent light sources. Now, the source of choice for ultrahigh-resolution visible light OCT is the supercontinuum, which is bulky, expensive, and optically noisy. Here we demonstrate an ultrahigh-resolution visible light OCT system with a combined superluminescent diode (SLD) source that achieves an axial resolution of ~3 micrometers in tissue after digital spectral shaping. The combined SLD source is situated above the blue light hazard range but below the high photopic efficiency range. The unique source wavelength range enables independent quantification of lutein and zeaxanthin and visualizes human Bruch’s membrane without requiring micrometer-scale resolution.