Functional OCT: a new functional retinal imaging device
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Functional optical coherence tomography: a new functional retinal imaging device
IRAS ID
169927
Contact name
Sinead Walker
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 2 months, 1 days
Research summary
Many conditions that cause sight loss involve damage to the retina, a structure that lines the back of the eyeball and is composed of multiple layers of nerve tissue. Earlier detection of conditions that damage the retina would allow rapid treatment, prolonging effective vision. Development of technologies that identify the early stages of retinal disease is therefore desirable.
The study is part of a £1.1 million Innovate UK funded project awarded to develop a new system designed to investigate retinal function. This non-contact functional optical coherence tomography (FuncOCT) system delivers a light stimulus to the retina and simultaneously takes cross-sectional images of retinal structure. Differences between the images taken before and after light stimulation indicate functional changes.
A prototype FuncOCT system will be evaluated on 80 individuals divided into four groups: a control group with no eye disease and three groups with conditions affecting different parts of the retina, (glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and age related macular degeneration). Individuals in the eye disease groups will be invited to participate in the study following their attendance at eye clinics at Gartnavel General Hospital or the New Victoria Hospital, both in Glasgow. The study procedures will be conducted at Glasgow Centre for Ophthalmic Research, Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow.
The aims of the study are to determine whether light stimulation causes significant changes in retinal images obtained in eyes with no disease and in eyes with glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and age related macular degeneration. Since these conditions affect different layers of the retina, we expect that distinct patterns will be observed in the three conditions.
It is envisaged that FuncOCT will eventually be adopted into routine clinical practice in primary care, allowing early detection of diseases affecting the structure and function of the retina.REC name
West of Scotland REC 4
REC reference
16/WS/0221
Date of REC Opinion
22 Dec 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion