EAGER: Ultra Low Light Level Imaging for Ophthalmological Applications

目前在眼科/眼科检查中使用的化学散瞳(化学散瞳)需要相当长的时间来进行散瞳和散瞳后的恢复，在检查和恢复期间常常使患者的眼睛处于高水平的光照下。时间要求本身就限制了全世界全面眼科检查的可获得性和频率，特别是在无法获得眼科诊所的地区。这项研究计划的目标是探索是否有可能在足够弱的光线条件下进行眼睛检查，以允许在不需要化学扩张的情况下自然扩张瞳孔。该研究计划将探索开发超微光成像系统，该系统可以在临床上在光线较暗的情况下提供包括视网膜在内的眼睛内部区域的高质量图像。减少每次眼科检查所需的时间将增加其可获得性，从而使全世界能够更早地诊断和治疗疾病。开发的超弱光成像系统的其他应用可以允许眼科手术以低得多的强度照明入射到视网膜上，从而最小化手术后的并发症并增强慢性耐受性，并可在产生非常低强度散射的其他光学成像应用中实现，例如细胞内成像。这项研究计划的目标是研究在弱光条件下进行眼科检查的可能性，这种检查将允许自然散瞳而不需要化学散瞳。为此，该研究计划将侧重于确定影响眼科检查用超微光成像系统发展的基本和技术限制，并分析绕过当前技术限制的先进技术。以直接检眼镜、宽视场直接检眼镜和裂隙灯形式实施的超弱光成像设备将使眼科检查能够仅通过自然散瞳来进行。这项研究计划将涉及三个关键方面：(1)确定影响超微光眼科检查的基本限制，从量子水平开始，因为它影响每帧低光子计数时可实现的信噪比，并包括前段和后段，特别是包括视网膜的正常和异常区域的反射率的波长相关性；(2)设计和评估超微光成像系统的技术实现，包括理论分析和实验原型，目的是确定影响性能的当前技术限制，以及(3)研究新的技术方法，该技术方法可以将超弱光成像系统的技术水平提高到由基本限制建立的边界，从而使下一代眼科设备和程序的开发成为可能。成功开发超微光成像系统将使现场条件下全面眼科检查的可获得性和频率显著增加，从而为更多的人提供更早地发现和治疗不利眼部疾病的机会。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The current use of chemical mydriasis (chemical dilation of the pupil) in eye/ophthalmological examinations requires significant time for both pupil dilation and recovery following pupil dilation, often subjecting the patient's eye to high levels of illumination during both the examination and recovery. The time requirement alone limits the availability and frequency of full ophthalmological examinations worldwide, particularly in regions without access to ophthalmological clinics. The goal of this research program is to explore whether it is possible to perform eye examinations under low enough light conditions to allow for natural dilation of the pupil without the need for chemical dilation. The research program will explore the development of ultra low light level imaging systems that can provide high quality images of the inner regions of the eye, including the retina, in a clinic with the lights dimmed. Reducing the time required for each ophthalmological examination would increase their availability and therefore enable both earlier diagnoses and treatment of diseases worldwide. Other applications of the ultra low light level imaging system developed could allow for eye surgeries to proceed with much lower intensity illumination incident on the retina, thereby minimizing post-surgical complications and enhancing chronic toleration, and be implemented in other optical imaging applications, e.g., intracellular imaging, that produce very low intensity scattering. The goal of this research program is to investigate the possibility of performing ophthalmological examinations under low light level conditions that would allow for natural pupil dilation without the need for chemical mydriasis. To this end, the research program will be focused on establishing the fundamental and technological limitations that impact the development of ultra low light level imaging systems for ophthalmological examinations and analyzing advanced techniques to circumvent current technological limits. Ultra low light level imaging devices implemented in the form of a direct ophthalmoscope, a wide field direct ophthalmoscope, and a slit lamp would enable ophthalmological examinations to be performed with only natural dilation of the pupil. This research program will involve three key aspects: (1) establishment of the fundamental limitations that affect ultra low light level ophthalmological examinations, starting at the quantum level as it impacts the signal to noise ratio achievable at low photon counts per pixel per frame, and including the wavelength dependence of the reflectivity of both normal and abnormal regions of the anterior and posterior segments, especially including the retina, (2) design and assessment of technological implementations of ultra low light level imaging systems, including both theoretical analysis and experimental prototypes, with the goal of establishing current technological limitations that impact performance, and (3) investigation of novel technical approaches that can advance the state of the art of ultra low light level imaging systems toward the boundaries established by fundamental limitations, thereby enabling the development of next generation ophthalmological devices and procedures. Successful development of ultra low light level imaging systems will in turn enable a significant increase in the availability and frequency of full ophthalmological examinations under field conditions, thereby providing earlier detection and treatment of adverse eye conditions to a greatly expanded population.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.