Imaging eyes: ocular diagnostics by adaptive optics

近年来眼科成像技术的进步对理解和治疗导致视力丧失的疾病产生了重大影响。眼睛是一种独特的透明器官，允许对视网膜进行光学成像，视网膜是眼睛后部的光敏组织。光学相干断层扫描（OCT）是一种常用的诊断成像方式，越来越多地用于实时体积成像。然而，即使人眼具有良好的光学性能，OCT的横向分辨率以及相关的光学成像技术仍然是有限的。自适应光学（AO）是需要获得所需的分辨率可视化视网膜在细胞水平。AO最初是为天文成像而开发的，使用可变形的光学器件对进入眼睛的光进行波前校正，校正角膜和眼内晶状体的缺陷，并允许衍射限制聚焦在视网膜上。我的研究计划的目的是研究新的OCT， AO和相关的高分辨率成像技术，以克服视网膜结构和生物功能可视化的挑战。

Recent advancements in ophthalmic imaging have made significant impacts to understanding and treating diseases leading to vision loss. The eye is a uniquely transparent organ, permitting optical imaging of the retina, the light sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a commonly used diagnostic imaging modality that is increasingly being investigated for real-time volumetric imaging. However, even with the good optical performance of the human eye, the lateral resolution of OCT, and related optical imaging techniques, is limited. Adaptive Optics (AO) is needed to obtain the resolution required to visualize the retina at the cellular level. Originally developed for astronomical imaging, AO performs wavefront correction of the light entering the eye using deformable optics, correcting the imperfections in the cornea and intra-ocular lens and permitting diffraction limited focusing on the retina. The purpose of my research program is to investigate novel OCT, AO, and related high resolution imaging technology to overcome the challenges to visualization of the retinal structure and biological function. Short Term Objectives 1) Advance real-time OCT with quantitative analysis to guide retinal medical procedures; 2) Investigate Wavefront Sensorless Adaptive Optics for cellular resolution retinal imaging in vivo: 3) Demonstrate proof of concept experiments for light based retinal therapeutics. Significance Diseases affecting vision affect Canada's aging population and amount to billions of dollars in direct costs to the Canadian health care system. The development of novel high resolution diagnostic imaging technology for eye clinics with the potential to detect degenerative changes in the retina earlier and with higher sensitivity is essential to timely vision preserving interventions. Furthermore, the development of high resolution and functional retinal imaging capabilities for preclinical applications has potential to accelerate the development of novel therapies for a broad range of vision robbing and neurological diseases. The technological development has strong potential for generation of novel intellectual property, and for commercialization of novel imaging systems for vision research and vision health care.