This review presents an overview of contrast mechanisms in polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) and its applications in ophthalmology. The principles of birefringence and depolarization, the primary contrast mechanisms in PS-OCT, are elucidated. The article introduces exemplary applications of PS-OCT in various ocular tissues, including retinal nerve fibers, scar tissue, cornea, sclera, and retinal pigment epithelium. Furthermore, it contextualizes PS-OCT within the broader landscape of OCT technology development and democratization. The review concludes by examining the potential of PS-OCT to offer novel perspectives in ophthalmic diagnosis and research.
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