Transverse chromatic aberration (TCA) in visible light optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the human retina

Transverse chromatic aberration (TCA) was studied in human retinal visible light Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). We devised a dispersion model-based iterative algorithm that both estimates and corrects TCA, as well as a model-free direct TCA estimation method. Both approaches yielded a TCA magnitude of ~0.21 arcminutes/degree along the horizontal meridian from 500 nm to 620 nm, consistent with previous research. An expected TCA offset induced by pupil displacement was also observed. Digital TCA correction along the fast axis improved OCT contrast and lateral resolution peripherally. These results show the importance of considering and even compensating TCA in visible light OCT.