Affiliations: [a] Medical Informatics Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, Larissa, Greece
| [b] Jules Gonin Eye Hospital Lausanne, Switzerland
| [c] Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| [d] Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece
| [e] Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Larissa, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Dr. Aristotle G. Koutsiaris, Medical Informatics Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 3 Panepistimiou St, Biopolis, Larissa 41500, Greece. Tel.: +30 2410 685517; E-mail: ariskout@otenet.gr.
Note: [1] Both authors contributed equally to this work.
Abstract: Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) is a relatively new imaging technique in ophthalmology for the visualization of the retinal microcirculation and other tissues of the human eye. This review paper aims to describe the basic definitions and principles of OCT and OCTA in the most straightforward possible language without complex mathematical and engineering analysis. This is done to help health professionals of various disciplines improve their understanding of OCTA and design further clinical research more efficiently. First, the basic technical principles of OCT and OCTA and related terminology are described. Then, a list of OCTA advantages and disadvantages, with a special reference to blood flow quantification limitations. Finally, an updated list of the basic hardware and software specifications of some of the commercially available OCTA devices is presented.
