Digital illustration of an eye transforming into a landscape with radar scanning for skin cancer detection.

Seeing Beneath the Surface: How New Eye Scans Could Revolutionize Skin Cancer Detection

Avery Sinclair in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"Could a routine trip to the eye doctor help detect skin cancer? Discover how anterior segment OCT is changing periocular imaging."

Skin cancer is a growing concern, ranking as one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Fair-skinned individuals, especially, face increased risks in sun-exposed areas like the head and neck. In the delicate area around the eyes, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is predominant, accounting for about 90% of malignant tumors, followed by sebaceous gland carcinoma (SC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC).

Early detection and precise treatment are critical, yet diagnosing periocular malignancies presents unique challenges. Traditional methods such as dermatoscopy, while helpful, have limitations in assessing deeper tissue structures. This is where optical coherence tomography (OCT) steps in, a technology already well-established in ophthalmology.

Now, researchers are exploring whether the anterior segment module of OCT, typically used for corneal and conjunctival imaging, can effectively assess periocular skin lesions. This innovative application offers a non-invasive way to visualize the skin's architecture, potentially improving diagnostic accuracy and treatment planning.

What is Anterior Segment OCT and How Does It Work?

Digital illustration of an eye transforming into a landscape with radar scanning for skin cancer detection.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is an imaging technique that uses light waves to capture high-resolution, cross-sectional images of tissue structures. In ophthalmology, OCT is commonly used to examine the retina, cornea, and other parts of the eye. Now, its application is expanding to dermatology, particularly for assessing skin lesions.

Anterior segment OCT uses a spectral domain approach, allowing for real-time visualization without direct contact with the skin. This non-invasive method makes it safe and comfortable for patients, while providing detailed images of the skin's layers.

Non-Invasive: No direct contact with the skin, reducing discomfort and risk of infection.
High-Resolution Imaging: Provides detailed cross-sectional views of skin structures.
Real-Time Visualization: Allows clinicians to assess lesions immediately.
Safe and Established Technology: OCT is already widely used in ophthalmology, ensuring a well-understood safety profile.

In a recent study, researchers used anterior segment OCT to image periocular skin lesions in patients suspected of having non-melanoma skin cancer. The OCT images were then correlated with histopathology findings to identify characteristic features associated with different types of tumors.

The Future of Skin Cancer Detection is Here

The study's findings suggest that anterior segment OCT imaging is a valuable, non-invasive tool for assessing periocular lesions. By correlating OCT images with histopathology, researchers identified key architectural features associated with different tumor types, such as hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, and hyporeflective tumor nests. This could help differentiate between tumors before a biopsy is performed, leading to earlier and more accurate diagnoses.

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.jcjo.2018.09.007, Alternate LINK

Title: Novel Application Of Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography For Periocular Imaging

Subject: Ophthalmology

Journal: Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Sabrina Bergeron, Denise Miyamoto, Debra-Meghan Sanft, Julia V. Burnier, Christina Mastromonaco, Andre A. Romano, Bryan Arthurs, Miguel N. Burnier

Published: 2019-08-01

Everything You Need To Know

How does anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) aid in the diagnosis of periocular skin cancer?

Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an imaging technique that uses light waves to create high-resolution, cross-sectional images of tissue structures. This allows clinicians to visualize the architecture of skin lesions non-invasively. It's particularly useful around the eyes (periocular area) where basal cell carcinoma (BCC), sebaceous gland carcinoma (SC), and squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) are common. Traditional methods like dermatoscopy have limitations in assessing deeper tissues, but anterior segment OCT overcomes those limitations by visualizing deeper structures, leading to potentially improved diagnostic accuracy and treatment planning. This application builds upon the well-established use of OCT in ophthalmology, now expanding its reach to dermatology for assessing skin lesions.

What advantages does anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) offer over traditional methods for assessing skin lesions around the eyes?

Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) offers several benefits, including its non-invasive nature (no direct contact with the skin), high-resolution imaging capabilities, real-time visualization, and a well-understood safety profile because it is already widely used in ophthalmology. The ability to obtain detailed cross-sectional views of skin structures can improve diagnostic accuracy. The high resolution enables visualization of characteristics like hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, and hyporeflective tumor nests, all indicators of different tumor types. The real-time nature supports immediate assessment of lesions.

What specific features in the optical coherence tomography (OCT) images are researchers looking for to help identify and classify different types of periocular skin cancers?

In periocular skin cancer detection, optical coherence tomography (OCT) helps by providing detailed images that can differentiate between various tumor types non-invasively. Researchers correlate optical coherence tomography (OCT) images with histopathology findings to identify characteristic features associated with different tumors, such as hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, and hyporeflective tumor nests. This process can potentially distinguish between tumor types before a biopsy is performed, potentially leading to earlier and more accurate diagnoses and better treatment planning.

Can you elaborate on the methodology used in the study that assessed the effectiveness of anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) for periocular skin cancer detection?

The study used anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) to image periocular skin lesions in patients suspected of having non-melanoma skin cancer. The optical coherence tomography (OCT) images were then correlated with histopathology findings to identify key architectural features associated with different types of tumors. This innovative approach aims to determine if optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging can provide sufficient information to differentiate between different tumor types before a biopsy is performed.

Is optical coherence tomography (OCT) accurate enough to distinguish between benign and malignant periocular lesions, potentially eliminating the need for biopsies?

While optical coherence tomography (OCT) shows promise in differentiating between tumor types by identifying key architectural features such as hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, and hyporeflective tumor nests, the differentiation between benign and malignant periocular lesions may still require traditional methods like biopsies. The non-invasive nature of optical coherence tomography (OCT) can help reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies, but histopathological examination remains the gold standard for definitive diagnosis. Further studies are needed to fully evaluate optical coherence tomography (OCT)'s sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing all types of periocular skin lesions, including melanoma.