3D terahertz imaging to map cornea hydration
Terahertz time-domain spectroscopic imaging of cornea for three dimensional mapping of hydration gradients
A new non-contact terahertz scanner is being developed to map water levels across the cornea for people with conditions like Fuchs’ dystrophy, keratoconus, or high eye pressure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stony Brook, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141727 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are building a non-contact terahertz time-domain scanner that can create three-dimensional maps of how much water is in each layer of the cornea. They will first test the scanner on artificial corneas and tissue taken from eyes, then use two live experimental models to see how well it detects hydration changes caused by high eye pressure or endothelial damage. The technique reads spectral reflections from different corneal layers to measure axial and spatial hydration gradients across the surface. If the instrument performs well, it could be developed further for clinical use in diagnosing or monitoring corneal disorders.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with corneal conditions that alter hydration—such as Fuchs’ dystrophy, keratoconus, or glaucoma-related corneal edema—or those with unexplained corneal swelling would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: Individuals whose vision problems come from retinal or optic nerve disease rather than corneal hydration are unlikely to benefit from this technology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could provide a safe, non-contact way to detect and monitor corneal swelling or dehydration earlier and more precisely.
How similar studies have performed: Terahertz sensing has shown promise in laboratory and ex vivo tissue studies but is novel for live corneal mapping and has not yet been proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
Stony Brook, United States
- State University New York Stony Brook — Stony Brook, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Arbab, M. Hassan — State University New York Stony Brook
- Study coordinator: Arbab, M. Hassan
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.