Noncontact common-path Fourier domain optical coherence tomography method for in vitro intraocular lens power measurement.

We propose a novel common-path Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (CP-FD-OCT) method for noncontact, accurate, and objective in vitro measurement of the dioptric power of intraocular lenses (IOLs) implants. The CP-FD-OCT method principle of operation is based on simple two-dimensional scanning common-path Fourier domain optical coherence tomography. By reconstructing the anterior and posterior IOL surfaces, the radii of the two surfaces, and thus the IOL dioptric power are determined. The CP-FD-OCT design provides high accuracy of IOL surface reconstruction. The axial position detection accuracy is calibrated at 1.22 μm in balanced saline solution used for simulation of in situ conditions. The lateral sampling rate is controlled by the step size of linear scanning systems. IOL samples with labeled dioptric power in the low-power (5D), mid-power (20D and 22D), and high-power (36D) ranges under in situ conditions are tested. We obtained a mean power of 4.95/20.11/22.09/36.25 D with high levels of repeatability estimated by a standard deviation of 0.10/0.18/0.2/0.58 D and a relative error of 2/0.9/0.9/1.6%, based on five measurements for each IOL respectively. The new CP-FD-OCT method provides an independent source of IOL power measurement data as well as information for evaluating other optical properties of IOLs such as refractive index, central thickness, and aberrations.