Adaptive optics, which originated from astronomy, is a high-resolution imaging technique that allows the first live view of individual cells in the retina of patients. This technology is used by researchers from the Radiology & Nuclear Medicine and Ophthalmology departments of Erasmus MC. The aim is to use new automatic and quantitative measurements of the retina.
The aim is to achieve an early diagnosis, detection of changes and assessment of the progression of hereditary retinal disorders.
Artificial intelligence
For four years, the research team will collect data from 400 test subjects in the AO Vision project. For this, the team will use artificial intelligence (AI).
Although hereditary retinal disorders are rare, they cause serious damage to the patient.
At a young age, these conditions already begin to affect the cells responsible for vision, the retinal photoreceptors. These cells then become damaged and eventually lost, leading to blindness.
To cure or slow down the condition, trials are already underway with treatments to cure or slow down the condition. However, the images used in current practice have insufficient resolution to detect changes at the cellular level. Moreover, it is difficult to analyze changes over time. The project, which will last four years, is supported by Health Holland.
Adaptive optics
To improve the quality of optical systems, the effect of existing and rapidly changing disturbances, for example due to atmospheric vibrations, can be reduced or at least compensated, adaptive optics is the technique that serves this purpose.
The use of adaptive optics to improve diagnostics is one of the technological developments in the detection of retinal disorders. Another good example, particularly aimed at improving the treatment of these conditions, is the research carried out by the Eye Hospital. In it, the surgical experience using a robot (PSS) is compared to manual retinal surgery.
