DONATE NOWOCT Imaging of the Eye’s Drainage System
Update on Recent Research projects at Biophotonics and Imaging Laboratory, Dept of BioEngineering and Ophthalmology at U of Washington supported by Cure Glaucoma Foundation
- Imaging the Eye’s Aqueous Outflow System with OCT
Support from the Cure Glaucoma Foundation (CGF) research arm has helped our University of Washington team develop advanced optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology to visualize the eye’s aqueous outflow system, the natural drainage pathway that regulates eye pressure and plays a central role in glaucoma. While OCT has transformed imaging of the retina, imaging the drainage structures in the front of the eye remains much less developed. With CGF support, we have created specialized anterior-segment OCT methods to image the trabecular meshwork, Schlemm’s canal, collector channels, and surrounding blood vessels, including new approaches for mapping these structures around the circumference of the eye. This work is helping us better understand how aqueous fluid leaves the eye, where drainage may become impaired in glaucoma, and how future imaging tools could help guide diagnosis and treatment.
2. Polarization-Sensitive OCT for Identifying the Scleral Spur
CGF research arm support has also helped us develop polarization-sensitive OCT (PS-OCT), an advanced form of OCT designed to reveal tissue properties that are difficult to see with conventional imaging. One important goal is to identify the scleral spur, a small anatomical landmark located near the eye’s drainage structures that is important for evaluating the anterior chamber angle and for understanding the anatomy relevant to glaucoma treatment. Conventional OCT can sometimes have difficulty identifying this landmark because tissue boundaries may have poor contrast. Our preliminary studies show that PS-OCT provides additional optical signatures that can help locate the scleral spur more reliably and have enabled development of a semi-automated method for its identification. With continued development, this technology may provide clinicians and researchers with more precise tools for assessing the drainage system and planning glaucoma interventions.