Photoacoustic Imaging in Ophthalmology

Photoacoustic (PA) imaging is a rapidly developing new biomedical imaging modality. Unlike existing ophthalmic imaging technology such as fundus photography, optical coherence tomography, fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, and ultrasound, photoacoustic imaging combines the advantages of optical excitation and acoustic detection. The lightabsorbing hemoglobin and melanin can be detected noninvasively and sensitively by photoacoustic imaging. This paper reviews recent developments of photoacoustic imaging in ophthalmological research, from basic principles to applications. Emphasis is given to the photoacoustic ophthalmoscopy and its multimodal imaging capability.