A Functional Optical Coherence Tomography Ophthalmoscope

An ageing population and the growing burden of chronic disease are factors which are now common to almost all advanced industrial societies. With these broad demographic and epidemiological shifts comes an increasing burden of eye related conditions. Conditions such as Diabetic Retinopathy where the number of people with the condition globally will grow from 126 million in 2010 to 191 million by 2030, Age-related Macular degeneration where the number of affected individuals in the UK will increase by 25% by 2020 to 800,000 and Glaucoma where the number of cases of primary open angle glaucoma in England and Wales is estimated to increase by a third over the next 20 years to around 650,000.
Objective assessment of retinal function is the most accurate and robust measure of pathology in eye related diseases. Several diseases may result in a similar retinal appearance as observed using structural imaging techniques. Functional imaging will allow more accurate stratification of patients into causes of disorders and could enable this earlier in the disease. A more accurate diagnosis will save costs by avoiding ineffective treatment. Catching diseases sooner enables earlier treatment and enhances prospects for maintaining and restoring vision, thereby prolonging independent living.
This project aims to develop and assess clinically novel technology that is required to perform non-invasive functional imaging of the retina. It will be led by a globally leading manufacturer in retinal imaging who aims to bring this technology to the eye screening market.