Advancements in anterior segment optical coherence tomography for cataract surgery

Rapid technological advancements in recent years have allowed optical coherence tomography of the anterior segment (AS-OCT) of the eye technology to play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of ophthalmic diseases, and its application in the perioperative period of cataract surgery has also made significant progress. This review describes the use of AS-OCT to measure the structure of the anterior segment of the eye before cataract surgery, to assess the turbidity of the lens to predict the risk of surgery, to monitor the status of the posterior capsule and corneal incision in real time so as to adjust the surgical method to reduce the postoperative complications, and to improve the quality of vision through the detection of the position of the intraocular lenses and refraction. These applications confirm that AS-OCT technology is able to improve the safety and efficacy of cataract surgery and can markedly reduce the number of complications. Taking advantage of in-depth cooperation between AS-OCT and artificial intelligence, current shortcomings and future prospects are also summarized to provide important support for perioperative cataract management.

Mini-abstract

This review underscores the significance of optical coherence tomography of the anterior segment (AS-OCT) in diagnosing and managing eye diseases, particularly during cataract surgery. AS-OCT effectively examines anterior segment structures, assesses lens clarity for surgical risk evaluation, and provides real-time imaging of the posterior capsule and corneal incision, allowing for technique adjustments to reduce complications. Its integration with artificial intelligence also addresses current challenges and opens new avenues for cataract management.