New optical scanning techniques like optical coherent tomography (OCT) allow high resolution imaging of the depth structure of the retina. The goal of the project is to improve the ability for early detection of eye diseases and to diagnose their progress based on this new imaging techniques. The focus lies on glaucoma diseases. Methods that provide ophthalmologists new possibilities to judge image data should be developed. An example for such a method is an automated segmentation and thickness measurement of the nerve fiber layer. Furthermore, the outcomings of the image processing must be visualised in an appropriate manner. The ophthalmologic department brings in its experience in the development and application of new methods in ophthalmology, particularly from the SFB 539. Together with the competence of the institute for pattern recognition in medical image processing this is an excellent base for the project.

Project partners:

Ophthalmology (Dr. Tornow, Prof. Dr. med Friedrich E. Kruse) and Institute for Pattern Recognition (Prof. Dr.-Ing. Joachim Hornegger), University of Erlangen-Nuremberg

Supported by:

School of Advanced Optical Technologies (SAOT) - www.aot.uni-erlangen.de

My current research projects are:

• Automated Retina Layer Segmentation