Early Detection of Photoreceptor Damage in Glaucoma via In Vivo Retinal Imaging

  • Anchala, Anupama Reddy (PD/PI)

Project: Research project

Project Details

Description

Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness worldwide. It is a disease characterized by damage to the optic nerve leading to progressive irreversible loss of peripheral vision. This condition, left untreated, results in blindness. Currently, diagnosis stems on the findings of damage to the optic nerve on exam and abnormal visual field testing. Significant damage to the visual system has already occurred by the time that glaucoma is detected on current methods of testing. Improved non-invasive technology is needed in order to detect glaucoma at an earlier and potentially reversible stage. This is critical in order to develop therapies that will more effectively treat and possibly even cure glaucoma in the future. We will gather images of the retina from both normal and glaucoma patients using a highly sensitive novel imaging system. Cellular changes occurring in glaucoma will be analyzed. We will study varying stages of glaucoma to determine when these changes are initially detectable. It is our hope that the use of this imaging technique will translate into earlier diagnosis in patients susceptible to glaucoma. This will allow us to treat patients at an earlier stage of disease and preserve more of their vision, effectively preventing blindness from glaucoma.
StatusFinished
Effective start/end date1/1/1512/31/18

Funding

  • Northwestern Memorial Foundation (1/1/15)

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