Fig. 1. Schematic illustration of the high speed full-field OCT set-up. Illumination: continuous 300 W Xenon arc lamp with multimode fiber and (L1) microscope objective as entry lens (air, 10×, 0.25 NA); BS: beam splitter; MO: vertically positioned microscope objectives (water-immersion, 10×, 0.3 NA); L2: achromatic doublet lens (75 cm focal length); Ref: reference mirror (9% reflectivity); PZT: piezoelectric stage actuator; Motorized translation stage: for axial translation of the sample.

Fig. 2. In vivo full-field OCT imaging of the rat anterior segment. Field size of each image: 300 μm × 300 μm, bar measures 100μm. Due to the curvature of the rat eye, x-y planes often cut through several cellular layers, giving an annular shape to the next appearing layers. A: corneal surface; B: penetrating the epithelial layer; C: the dark central area is the epithelial layer, outlined by the highly reflective surface; D, E: within the low scattering epithelial layer; F, G, H, I: successive depth steps cutting through the basal membrane, viewing the stroma in the center, surrounded by the comparatively low scattering epithelium; J, K, L, M, N, O: progressing down through the stroma. Keratocyte nuclei are clearly seen, stromal and collagen fiber structures are suggested; P: from the outermost edge toward the center, we see the lower stroma, Descemet’s membrane (thick double ring) and touch the endothe-lial layer in the center; Q: slightly lower, the endothelial layer in the center gives maximal reflectivity and scattering; R, S, T, U: progressing down through the lower corneal layers: Descemet’s membrane (double outer ring) and the endothelium (brightest inner ring), passing into the vitreous (center, no signal). Cellular details are seen in the endothelium; V: ~ 1.2 mm below image U, we touch the crystalline lens capsule; W: cutting through the capsule (outer ring) and touching the inner lens surface; X: capsule (outer ring) and inner lens (center). Fiber structure is suggested in the inner lens tissue.