The relaxed confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope.

The development of the Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope is reviewed from a historical perspective. Since a flying-spot scanning principle for an electro-optical ophthalmoscope was first disclosed in 1950, enabling milestones have included the introduction of the laser and inversion of the usual Gullstrand's configuration of optical pupils in 1977, and the application of the optical principle of confocality by means of double or de-scanning in 1983. As a result, high resolution and high contrast confocal infra-red ophthalmoscopy with a 790 nm diode laser, at video rates, is a major novel imaging modality when compared to traditional optical techniques. This imaging mode is ideal to provide the necessary fiducial landmarks for microperimetry, therapeutic laser and SD-OCT based optical sectioning of the retina. DPSS or He-Ne lasers emitting at 532, 543, 561 or 575 nm are used for complimentary red-free fundus imaging. The diode 790 nm and DPSS 490 nm lasers are also used for fluorescence excitation.