Removing artifacts, reducing noise, and shaping the point spread function (PSF) in Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) are critical for optimal image quality. Existing methods require frequent calibration, fail for certain background signals, or introduce various artifacts such as side-lobes for the lateral PSF. Here, we present methods for numerical optimization of FD-OCT image quality and demonstrate them for different OCT systems. Based on simulations, we also show that suitable algorithms for line-field and full-field FD-OCT can perform self-balancing, effectively eliminating relative intensity noise (RIN) and thus eliminating the need for balanced detection with a second detector or camera.
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