Funded by NIH, Grant No.: 5R44EY013672-03
Patent No.: US 7,113,817 B1

The Need

6.4 million new cases of eye disease occur each year in the United States alone. The evaluation of blood flow in the retina is a highly useful diagnostic tool, yet one of the most difficult challenges in ophthalmology. Monitoring of retinal hemodynamics allows ophthalmologists to gain valuable insight into the progression and severity of eye diseases. However, current techniques cannot directly quantify retinal blood velocity nor do they detect preclinical changes in blood flow predictive of eventual significant morbidity.

The Idea

Significant ocular diseases such as macular degeneration, optic neuropathy, infectious retinitis, and glaucoma have been shown to alter blood flow dynamics in the eye, generally leading to decreased perfusion. CW Optics' proposes a new optical technique consisting of a speckle imager that can be incorporated in a fundus camera at a fraction of the cost of the laser Doppler devices currently in use.

The Science

The proposed imaging method uses spatial averaging of dynamic events. Just one image is needed to calculate blood velocity. The fundus camera, with speckle imager, allows acquiring of full-field retinal images in near realtime. Short exposure time reduces the effects of motion artifiacts.

The Bottom Line

CW Optics' proposed device will allow physicians to record and keep track of patients' retinal hemodynamics to detect early signs of ocular disorders. With over 1 million Americans blind from eye disease, such a technology has great potential to improve the eye health of patients. CW Optics' fundus camera, with speckle imager, promises to improve the ocular management of patients.