Ocular biomechanics is central to the pathophysiology of several diseases. Changes in ocular tissue’s stiffness and its response to pressure can cause both minor refractive problems such as myopia, but also blindness through harmful forces leading to the atrophy of neurons in the Optic Nerve Head in glaucoma. We have developed non-invasive techniques to measure ocular rigidity and local deformations of ocular tissues in a clinical setting.
Glaucoma is leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. We have developed a non-invasive method for calculating ocular rigidity (OR) in the living human eye using OCT movies. Using this method, we have demonstrated a positive correlation between OR and Glaucoma. Our projects use both image analysis algorithms as well as Artificial Intelligence (AI) to provide a deeper understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of glaucoma, as well as improved and less invasive methods for earlier diagnosis.
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Space Flight-Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS) occurs in 45-75% of astronauts on long term missions and is considered a major impediment to deep space exploration. The pathophysiology of SANS is not well understood and mitigating measures have not yet been described. We are investigating the role of ocular rigidity in the development of SANS. In collaboration with NASA and the Canadian Space Agency, our research team is measuring ocular rigidity of astronauts before and after flights to the International Space Station.
Selected publications :
Automation and image processing can improve diagnosis and detection of various ocular diseases. Our lab uses machine learning algorithms to detect and monitor the progression of aging-related macular degeneration (AMD) in patients. This project aims to predict the evolution of AMD in aging patients undergoing treatment. In addition to this clinical project, we also collaborate with various scientists to develop software for the analysis of retinal vascular tissues for pre-clinical studies.
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