Retinal Imaging
Spectral imaging of the retina enables non-invasive mapping of retinal chemicals; such as oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin; that are of great interest in understanding eye metabolic processes and for the detection and screening for retinal disease. We conduct research into the development of instrumentation for spectral retinal imaging and into algorithms for inverting the data contained in in these spectral images to yield quantified chemical maps. This involves the development of a rigorous understanding of the physics of light propagation in the retina and Monte-Carlo modelling combined with analytical physical models.
Choroidal oximetry image. (A) The vascular bed of the choroid is visible and measureable in lightly pigmented individuals with a spectrophotometric oximeter. The oxygen saturation in the vessels is color coded. Red represents the highest oxygen saturation and purple is the lowest (see scale on right side). Arrow is pointing at a visible choroidal vortex vein. (B) Oximetry fundus image taken with oxygen-insensitive wavelength (570 nm). (C) The same area of the fundus is captured simultaneously at an oxygen-sensitive wavelength (600 nm).