Corneal Examination at cell resolution with optical transmission tomography – CERES

Recently, we paid attention to a physical phenomenon called Gouy phase shift - ? phase change that waves experience, when they pass through an optical focus. We found that this effect can be used to create a new type of optical imaging system that works in transmission and captures optical sections of the sample. We have verified that this method works for ex vivo biological samples. In the current project we want to push this method further and make it suitable for in vivo eye diagnostics, in particular for diagnostics of in vivo human anterior eye (cornea, limbus). One way to achieve the transmission geometry in the eye is by illuminating the posterior segment (fundus) to produce diffusely back-reflected light (well-known red eye effect in conventional photography). This light then acts as a back-illumination source for the cornea. Other transmission configurations to be explored are back-illumination from the iris and epi-illumination through the sclera. Our team has a broad experience of bringing new imaging technologies from the concept to real clinical use. Therefore, the goal of the project extends beyond creating a new in vivo eye imaging device and aims at producing the valuable diagnostic results in clinical patients with a variety of ocular diseases. Particular attention will be given to studying neuropathies and inflammatory eye conditions as well as open-angle glaucoma - major underdiagnosed cause of irreversible blindness.