This paper explains the term low-coherence interferometry, reviews the earl
y development of optical low-coherence reflectometry, and shows some of the
paths that led to the field of biomedical optics. This paper demonstrates
that early technical developments in the telecommunications industry result
ed in a myriad of technical implementations and applications in biology, me
dicine, and the explosion of the field in noninvasive biomedical optical te
chniques. Recent examples of innovative applications of this proliferating
technology into the fields of ophthalmology, developmental biology, and end
oscopy are described, (C) 1999 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Eng
ineers. [S1083-3668(99)00602-4].