Recent Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Innovations for Increased Accessibility and Remote Surveillance

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) has revolutionized the diagnosis and management of retinal diseases, offering high-resolution, cross-sectional imaging that aids in early detection and continuous monitoring. However, traditional OCT devices are limited to clinical settings and require a technician...

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Main Authors: Brigid C. Devine, Alan B. Dogan, Warren M. Sobol
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Bioengineering
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/12/5/441
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author Brigid C. Devine
Alan B. Dogan
Warren M. Sobol
author_facet Brigid C. Devine
Alan B. Dogan
Warren M. Sobol
author_sort Brigid C. Devine
collection DOAJ
description Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) has revolutionized the diagnosis and management of retinal diseases, offering high-resolution, cross-sectional imaging that aids in early detection and continuous monitoring. However, traditional OCT devices are limited to clinical settings and require a technician to operate, which poses accessibility challenges such as a lack of appointment availability, patient and family burden of frequent transportation, and heightened healthcare costs, especially when treatable pathology is undetected. With the increasing global burden of retinal conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy, there is a critical need for improved accessibility in the detection of retinal diseases. Advances in biomedical engineering have led to innovations such as portable models, community-based systems, and artificial intelligence-enabled image analysis. The SightSync OCT is a community-based, technician-free device designed to enhance accessibility while ensuring secure data transfer and high-quality imaging (6 × 6 mm resolution, 80,000 A-scans/s). With its compact design and potential for remote interpretation, SightSync widens the possibility for community-based screening for vision-threatening retinal diseases. By integrating innovations in OCT imaging, the future of monitoring for retinal disease can be transformed to reduce barriers to care and improve patient outcomes. This article discusses the evolution of OCT technology, its role in the diagnosis and management of retinal diseases, and how novel engineering solutions like SightSync OCT are transforming accessibility in retinal imaging.
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spelling doaj-art-671eabb239b54fe9aa79e7194ddf1ab02025-08-20T02:33:43ZengMDPI AGBioengineering2306-53542025-04-0112544110.3390/bioengineering12050441Recent Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Innovations for Increased Accessibility and Remote SurveillanceBrigid C. Devine0Alan B. Dogan1Warren M. Sobol2College of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH 44272, USAVirginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA 24016, USADepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USAOptical Coherence Tomography (OCT) has revolutionized the diagnosis and management of retinal diseases, offering high-resolution, cross-sectional imaging that aids in early detection and continuous monitoring. However, traditional OCT devices are limited to clinical settings and require a technician to operate, which poses accessibility challenges such as a lack of appointment availability, patient and family burden of frequent transportation, and heightened healthcare costs, especially when treatable pathology is undetected. With the increasing global burden of retinal conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy, there is a critical need for improved accessibility in the detection of retinal diseases. Advances in biomedical engineering have led to innovations such as portable models, community-based systems, and artificial intelligence-enabled image analysis. The SightSync OCT is a community-based, technician-free device designed to enhance accessibility while ensuring secure data transfer and high-quality imaging (6 × 6 mm resolution, 80,000 A-scans/s). With its compact design and potential for remote interpretation, SightSync widens the possibility for community-based screening for vision-threatening retinal diseases. By integrating innovations in OCT imaging, the future of monitoring for retinal disease can be transformed to reduce barriers to care and improve patient outcomes. This article discusses the evolution of OCT technology, its role in the diagnosis and management of retinal diseases, and how novel engineering solutions like SightSync OCT are transforming accessibility in retinal imaging.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/12/5/441retinal telemedicineself-administered OCTremote data transfer
spellingShingle Brigid C. Devine
Alan B. Dogan
Warren M. Sobol
Recent Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Innovations for Increased Accessibility and Remote Surveillance
Bioengineering
retinal telemedicine
self-administered OCT
remote data transfer
title Recent Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Innovations for Increased Accessibility and Remote Surveillance
title_full Recent Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Innovations for Increased Accessibility and Remote Surveillance
title_fullStr Recent Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Innovations for Increased Accessibility and Remote Surveillance
title_full_unstemmed Recent Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Innovations for Increased Accessibility and Remote Surveillance
title_short Recent Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Innovations for Increased Accessibility and Remote Surveillance
title_sort recent optical coherence tomography oct innovations for increased accessibility and remote surveillance
topic retinal telemedicine
self-administered OCT
remote data transfer
url https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/12/5/441
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AT alanbdogan recentopticalcoherencetomographyoctinnovationsforincreasedaccessibilityandremotesurveillance
AT warrenmsobol recentopticalcoherencetomographyoctinnovationsforincreasedaccessibilityandremotesurveillance