Basic Principle and Various Applications of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)

Attempts to use light as a diagnostic and imaging tool have been steadily made since the early 20th century. Among them, optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been actively studied since the revelation that X-rays had adverse effects on the human body, and recently, its use, in conjunction with the growth of laser and optical technology, has increased rapidly. In this article, the basic principle and implementation schemes of OCT are introduced. In addition, the use of OCT in various industrial fields beyond the ophthalmic field, in which it is currently widely used, are presented.