Raman spectroscopy in ophthalmology: From experimental tool to applications in vivo

Raman spectroscopy is a qualitative and quantitative optical technique for determining the molecular composition of matter. Improvements in spectrosco pic instruments, especially the modality to detect low light level signals extended the Raman technique to biomedical applications, even in delicate s tructures like the eye. The purpose of this paper was to make an inventory of performed applications of Raman spectroscopy in biomedical science and e specially in ophthalmology. A literature search was done using Medline, Cur rent Contents, a patent server on the Internet, and references found in art icles and patents. This search revealed a variety of Raman techniques and a pplications in biomedical research, and an increasing flow of articles star ting in the late 1970s on Raman spectroscopy in ophthalmology. This increas e in literature about Raman spectroscopy in ophthalmology feeds the expecta tion that this valuable technique will be introduced in the future into cli nical practice.