Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
Ophthalmoscopy, or the in vivo imaging of the retina, is an essential tool for the characterization and diagnosis of retinal and systemic diseases. Despite the ubiquity of conventional ophthalmic devices, oftentimes the visualization of smaller features is limited in current modalities due to the presence of optical aberrations. While adaptive optics (AO) can mitigate the effect of these aberrations and provide nearly diffraction limited images of the eye using an AO scanning light ophthalmoscope (AOSLO), it cannot mitigate common ophthalmic conditions, such as cataracts, or high myopia, which cause substantial wavefront aberrations and result in reduced visual performance and image resolution. Moreover, the aperture of the human eye limits image resolution, impeding visualization of the smallest structures in the retina. Current implementations of AOSLO split-detection (or phase contrast) is also limited, as they cannot resolve features within the eye that lie at arbitrary angles, preventing full characterization of phase-resolved structures. Finally, few modifications in AOSLO design since its conception in 2002 are able to be applied to extant systems and require extensive mechanical modifications, precluding upgrades in many devices. Altogether, these gaps prevent widespread accessibility of AO imaging to the general population. As such, the objective of this proposal is to develop and construct optical elements and models whereby an AOSLO might be equipped to image broader populations with increased resolution, thereby accelerating future clinical applications and increasing current knowledge. The first aim will be to implement a Dove prism for arbitrary-angle split-detection imaging in vivo. This integration would allow for visualization of features oriented at various, arbitrary angles throughout the eye, such as vasculature, whose feature visualization is severely limited in current AOSLO imaging modalities. This modification would enable features of various retinal pathologies to be captured at multiple angles while simultaneously enabling extant systems to be altered with minimal complexity. The second aim will be to explore and integrate variable in vivo illumination profiles for both improving the resolution and extending the depth of focus of an AOSLO. This integration would encompass such optical elements as Fresnel Zone Plates, light axicons, and annular masks to transform the light intensity and distribution being delivered for the eye, allowing for superior resolution. This newly configured illumination profile would enable ophthalmic imaging to expand beyond current subject groups while simultaneously providing superior images with enhanced contrast. The research planned within this proposal will address a fundamental gap in the AO and ophthalmological communities while providing a distinctive training opportunity. This training plan will include in vivo retinal imaging, optical and mathematical design, software development, engineering fundamentals, and system integration. This will provide me with an ideal platform to develop my professional and scientific proficiency while building the foundation of skills necessary for my development into a successful, independent scientist.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
