In　order　to　achieve　a　better　complex　conjugate　artifacts　(CCA)　suppression,　we　propose　a　five-frame　variable　phase-shifting　(FVP)　method　for　spectral　domain　optical　coherence　tomography　(SD-OCT).　The　traditional　five-frame　invariant　phase-shifting　(FIP)　method　employs　five　phase　shifts　correlate　with　the　center　wavelength.　However,　due　to　the　effects　of　polychromatic　errors,　the　FIP　method　cannot　get　excellent　CCA　suppression.　In　the　present　work,　we　employ　FVP　method　using　variable　phase　shifts　which　is　dependent　on　all　the　wavelengths　and　therefore,　theoretically,　the　system　would　have　no　effects　of　polychromatic　errors.　This　is　the　reason　why　the　FVP　method　would　achieve　better　CCA　suppression　than　the　FIP　method.　Comparative　studies　between　FIP　and　FVP　methods　are　investigated　in　the　work.　Subsequently,　we　develop　a　homemade　SD-OCT　system　involving　a　homemade　spectrometer,　by　which　the　anterior　segment　of　a　rat＇s　eyeball　is　measured.　The　experimental　results　demonstrate　that　the　quality　of　OCT　images　is　significantly　improved　by　using　FVP　method　with　an　increase　by　a　factor　of　1.7　on　the　CCA　suppression　of　SD-OCT.　FVP　provides　a　new　strategy　for　complex　conjugate　artifacts　suppression　for　spectral　domain　optical　coherence　tomography.　©　2018　by　the　authors.