Advances in anterior segment imaging

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Ophthalmologists use anterior segment imaging for diagnosis, measurement, monitoring, and treatment of a variety of conditions. Imaging modalities continue to improve in their precision and reliability, and as such research is needed to discover and demonstrate additional utilities and applications that can further enhance the ophthalmologist's diagnostic toolkit. This review summarizes key research studies over the past 12-18 months and explains how ophthalmologists, ranging from comprehensive to cornea and keratorefractive surgeons, can integrate these imaging techniques into their practice. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent research in anterior segment imaging techniques, particularly optical coherence tomography of the anterior segment, epithelial thickness mapping, and wavefront aberrometry, has demonstrated how these modalities can be integrated to improve diagnostic precision and augment the clinical exam. Increased knowledge about these techniques has allowed ophthalmologists to use imaging to diagnose and monitor conditions of the anterior segment very closely, even in cases with subtle findings that may not be easily seen on slit lamp examination. SUMMARY: Ophthalmologists benefit from advanced imaging technologies that enhance diagnosis and clinical decision-making, and recent research on developments in anterior segment imaging demonstrate how these modalities can be integrated in a wide variety of settings to improve patient care.