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This project, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, attempts to improve the accessibility of diagnostic instruments for glaucoma screening. The presented approach aims to realize real-time near-infrared video fundus imaging that enables the use of targeted fixation stimuli to ensure continuous imaging. The integration of near-infrared illumination with a wavelength of 780 nm not only avoids pupil constriction, but also enables mesopic imaging in darkened ambient light, ensuring optimal visualization of the retinal structure. This innovative system achieves nearly reflection-free imaging through polarized illumination with polarization-dependent beam paths. Its primary aim is to capture extensive fundus areas to facilitate correlations with linear optical coherence tomography (LOCT) measurements. In the future, the fundus setup will be integrated into the LOCT setup. In this research project, the primary aim is to generate images of the optic nerve, but it is also possible to carry out examinations of the macula. Unlike from traditional fundus cameras, this system has a controllable screen for generating individual fixation stimuli, which creates continuous eye movements and enables controlled imaging. The main objective is to capture large fundus areas and track eye positions to combine this information with the LOCT measurements A-scan positions, which enables the creation of B-scans with irregular geometries. This approach replaces the need for complex scanning systems by leveraging natural eye movements. The approach can thus be used to detect retinal pathologies in a different way and could therefore be used for more comprehensive diagnostic and scientific applications.
This paper presents a method for dynamically controlling the gaze movement of patients during ophthalmic examinations, specifically using infrared funduscopy and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) to gather retinal information essential for glaucoma screenings. By using the patient's natural eye movements, this system eliminates the need for traditional precise scanning mirrors used in conventional OCT devices, which typically direct the OCT laser beam across the retina to produce A-scans. In this approach, the OCT laser beam remains fixed while the patient is guided to follow a predetermined pattern on a display with their eyes. This method effectively uses the patient’s eye movements to replace the functionality of scanning mirrors. By tracking the position of the eye in real time, the system ensures that the specific areas of the retina are captured. This technique not only provides a cost-effective alternative to traditional OCT systems but also enhances patient comfort by involving them actively in the process, reducing the need to fixate on a single point. During the examination, the system evaluates each measurement point, and the scan patterns can be adjusted if necessary to ensure comprehensive diagnostic data acquisition. The resulting positions are assigned to the OCT A-scans. This allows the optic nerve B-scans typical for glaucoma examinations to be created in the evaluation. The system is characterized by the fact that it enables flexible adjustments to the imaging patterns in real-time, based on which areas of the eye have already been captured and which still require examination. The setup mainly uses commercially available components to create a cost-effective alternative to conventional, often price-intensive diagnostic devices. This method has the potential to be important not only for the improved diagnosis and monitoring of eye diseases, including glaucoma, but also offers prospects for wider application in preventive eye health care.