Visible-light eye imaging to detect glaucoma earlier
Advancing visible light optical coherence tomography in glaucoma detection
A new visible-light eye imaging method aims to spot early glaucoma damage in people at risk of losing vision.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11319745 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project is building a next-generation visible-light optical coherence tomography (VIS-OCT) scanner that takes detailed 3-D pictures of the retina and retinal nerve fiber layer. It focuses on two new markers—a reflectance spectral signature from the nerve fiber layer and a measure of macular oxygen consumption combining blood oxygen and flow. The team will improve the scanner's resolution and imaging range, and then measure oxygen saturation and blood flow in the macula to estimate metabolic changes linked to glaucoma. They will compare these new measures to standard thickness tests to see if they detect early damage sooner.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults at risk for glaucoma or with early or suspected glaucoma who can travel to the study center would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with advanced glaucoma or unrelated eye conditions may not gain direct benefit from the imaging improvements in this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could find glaucoma damage earlier so treatment can begin sooner and vision loss can be reduced.
How similar studies have performed: A recent small clinical study by the team showed these VIS-OCT markers were promising for separating early glaucoma from normal eyes, but broader validation is needed.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yi, Ji — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Yi, Ji
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.