The Optical Imaging and Visualization (OIV) Lab aims to develop optical imaging technology to improve the quality and enhance the user experience of modern imagery through 3D visualisation, particularly in the ocular imaging domains. Our primary objective is to work collaboratively with the eye-clinic and optics industry to evaluate and develop advanced eye care products and services.
Our ongoing research projects
Automated detection of ocular diseases with artificial intelligence
In ophthalmology, artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming common for screening, image-interpretation, early diagnosis and guiding treatment of eye conditions. Our AI research aims are:
- to devise and evaluate new clinically meaningful metrics for analysing ocular images
- implement novel machine and deep-learning algorithms for automatic segmentation, disease detection and progression-classification of eye diseases. This uses both fundus photographs and optical coherence tomography (OCT) images from both healthy subjects and patients undergoing treatment for eye diseases.
Multi-modal optical coherence imaging for early detection of eye diseases
Visual impairment and loss due to eye diseases are common problems in older Australians. Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Glaucoma are the leading causes of blindness. Early detection of these eye diseases can prevent permanent vision loss. We aim to develop a coherence-domain microscopy system based on our previously published geometric phase liquid-crystal technology with multi-modalities features, which includes polarisation and fluorescence imaging techniques.
Using a novel geometric phase-shifting technique based on liquid crystal, the image acquisition will improve and the optical setup will be simplified. This avoids the necessity to use complex instrumentation such as a lateral point scanning scheme.
By coupling two different imaging techniques such as polarisation and fluorescence imaging, this will provide morphology, anatomical and physiological properties, such as birefringence of ocular tissues. This will ensure early diagnosis of ocular pathologies, preventing vision loss and leading to more effective treatments.
Visualising tear film lipid layer using quantum dots
Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconductor nanocrystals that can provide a range of diagnostic and therapeutic applications in ophthalmology for effective treatment of ocular diseases. Tear film evaporation is one of the key factors responsible for dry eyes. It can lead to visual disturbances and contact lens intolerance. Tear film evaporation depends on the structure of the lipid layer. Understanding the fundamentals of tear dynamics helps develop treatment modalities for ocular surface diseases.
This research aims to develop a novel instrumentation and imaging technique to visualise tear film layers in vivo using silicon QDS. They are non-toxic and emit discrete wavelengths of light which are very bright and stable.
3D reconstruction and visualisation of ocular disease model from OCT images
3D reconstruction of medical images helps to interpret visual depth and understand the pathological process in disease. In this 3D image, reconstruction of retinal optic nerve head micro and large vascular structure from optical coherence tomography angiography B-scans is clearly visible. The top images show how the microvascular density varies from healthy to normal eye. The bottom 3D model may play an important role in optometry/ophthalmology education, training and diagnosis of glaucoma as well as any eye disease.
The model was developed by one of our PhD students, Nahida Akter.
Contact us
If you are interested in collaborating with the Optical Imaging and Visualization (OIV) Laboratory at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, UNSW Sydney on a research project, please contact:
Dr Maitreyee Roy (OIV, Team Research Leader).
Email: maitreyee.roy@unsw.edu.au
Tel: +61 2 9065 1496
Office:
Room 3.032, Rupert Myers Building (North Wing),
School of Optometry & Vision Science
UNSW, Kensington NSW 2052 Australia
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