Report
Teaser, summary, work performed and final results
Periodic Reporting for period 1 - TACT (Towards an objective and quantitative Assessment of human Corneal Transparency)
Teaser
Loss of corneal transparency is a major cause of visual handicap worldwide. Early diagnosis and quantitative follow-up could improve clinical outcome and hence prevent loss of vision. However, means to assess corneal transparency are extremely limited and in current...
Summary
Loss of corneal transparency is a major cause of visual handicap worldwide. Early diagnosis and quantitative follow-up could improve clinical outcome and hence prevent loss of vision. However, means to assess corneal transparency are extremely limited and in current ophthalmology and eye-bank practice usually involve a subjective and qualitative observation of opacities. The overall objective of this project was to establish the scientific and technical foundations essential to the creation of clinical tools capable of objectively quantifying, characterizing, and monitoring corneal transparency. It thus addresses the demand for such a means in bot the eye-bank and clinical ophthalmology setting and leads the way towards effective prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of various corneal conditions.
Work performed
To achieve this goal, an inter- and multidisciplinary approach was employed, involving the synergy between biologists and ophthalmologists at the host institution, the Institut de la Vision, and adjacent Quinze-Vingts National Eye Hospital, and physicists (including the researcher) at the partner organization, the Institut Langevin (including pioneers of the core technologies being translated into ophthalmology), as well as at the Laboratory of Biosciences.
Several advanced concepts and novel imaging modalities tailored to the needs of quantitative cornea assessment were developed and validated, all enabling ease of use (Quantitative Slit-lamp Biomicroscopy, Q-SB, and Optical Coherence Tomography, Q-OCT), high resolution (Full-Field Optical Coherence Tomography, FF-OCT, with multi-wavelength capabilities), and deep light-penetration (Multi-Illumination Matrix FF-OCT). Notably, a novel optical data-analysis method based on a physical model of corneal transparency emerged that may be applied to any existing depth-resolved corneal imaging modality routinely used in ophthalmology (including standard digital SB and spectral-domain OCT) and eye-bank practice, and enables, for the first time, standardized characterization, including monitoring capability, of corneal transparency. We are currently in the process of implementing this method into the clinical protocol at the Quinze-Vingts National Eye Hospital, and we also established a new collaboration with the French Eye Bank (“Banque Francaise des Yeux†or BFY) for its implementation into and improvement of current procedures for graft (i.e., donated tissue taken from a recently deceased individual) quality control before corneal transplantation.
Final results
The novel imaging approaches and advanced concepts investigated during the project enable quantitative corneal transparency assessment, via objective analysis of light scattering, beyond the current state-of-the-art qualitative and subjective assessment of visible opacities using a standard slit-lamp biomicroscope with a human observer.
By addressing an unmet but critical need in ophthalmology, the work and innovation activities carried out are expected to bring transformative benefits to health care and public health. The project results have also opened new research avenues and spurred further collaborations, strengthening European competitiveness on an international level.
Website & more info
More info: http://www.institut-vision.org/fr/recherche/projets.html.