Development of an Adjustable Arm-Type Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography System for Pediatric Patients With Congenital Cataracts.

Abstract

We developed a stable, high-penetration arm-type swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) system for visualizing retinal and choroidal structures in pediatric patients with congenital cataracts. The system features a compact OCT probe with an integrated iris camera and fixation target for easy alignment, mounted on a five-degree-of-freedom adjustable arm to reduce motion artifacts and operator fatigue. Feasibility was demonstrated through supine retinal imaging of healthy adults, congenital cataract children, and infants, achieving success rates of 100%, 97%, and 95%, respectively. The system captured abnormal retinal features (e.g., absent foveal structure) in congenital cataract patients, highlighting its clinical value for monitoring retinal development. High-speed (200 kHz) imaging and high-resolution (4.1 μm) further support its dual role in clinical diagnosis and scientific research, such as retinal development studies and visual prognosis modeling. This system demonstrates significant potential for routine use in clinical practice and research, offering a reliable tool for pediatric ophthalmic imaging.