Image formation theory of optical coherence tomography with optical aberrations and its application for computational aberration correction

Abstract: The computational correction of defocus and aberrations in optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a promising approach to achieve high-resolution imaging with deep imaging depth without hardware costs. However, the techniques are not well understood due to the lack of an accurate theoretical model and investigation tools. The image formation theory of optical coherence tomography (OCT) with optical aberrations is formulated. Based on the theory, a numerical simulation method is developed and computational refocusing (CR) and aberration correction (CAC) methods are designed. The newly designed CAC method is applied to the OCT images of a microparticle phantom and in vivo human retina. The results show that the CAC method can correct the optical aberrations and improve the image quality. The theoretical model-based approach is a powerful tool for understanding the OCT imaging properties and designing new processing methods.