Dr. Niraj Kumar Soni
Talks about IBMS-Advance Ocular Imaging

Rahul Patil
Talks about IBMS-Advance Ocular Imaging

Dr. Ashish Khaparde tells you about our Advanced Ocular Imaging research

Advanced Ocular Imaging

Overview

Introduction

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) produces detailed cross-sectional images of the eye and is central to diagnosing conditions like keratoconus, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. IBMS develops next-generation imaging tools and automated algorithms for quantitative evaluation of both corneal and retinal OCT images. In corneal imaging, IBMS was among the first in the field to develop anterior corneal and Bowman’s layer topography and aberration maps from high-resolution OCT.

Why This Research Matters

The lab has also serially evaluated epithelial remodelling following procedures such as LASIK, SMILE, and PRK, and quantified micro-distortions in the Bowman’s layer to support the identification of asymmetric keratoconus. In retinal imaging, the lab has developed automated algorithms to quantify OCT images in glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, evaluated posterior vitreous visibility using enhanced depth and vitreous imaging techniques, and conducted extensive OCTA vascular comparisons across devices, finding significant correlations between macular edema volume and retinal features in patients with diabetes. IBMS also pioneers Polarization-Sensitive OCT (PS-OCT), which captures birefringence, a key biomarker for early disease detection, to reveal microstructural details invisible to conventional OCT. In parallel, IBMS is developing Cellular-Resolution OCT to visualise corneal structures at near-microscopic detail in real time, without contact or anaesthesia, bridging the gap between clinical imaging and laboratory microscopy.

Objectives

The Advanced Ocular Imaging programme aims to:

  • Develop anterior corneal and Bowman's layer topography and aberration maps from high-resolution OCT
  • Quantify micro-distortions in the Bowman's layer for asymmetric keratoconus identification
  • Build automated algorithms to quantify OCT images in glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy
  • Capture birefringence with PS-OCT for early disease detection
  • Visualise corneal structures at cellular resolution in real time

Core Research Focus

The advanced ocular imaging programme focuses on quantitative evaluation of corneal and retinal structures.

Core areas of focus include:

  • Cornea: Anterior corneal and Bowman's layer topography from OCT for early ectasia detection. Serial epithelial remodelling mapping after LASIK, SMILE, and PRK. Bowman's layer micro-distortion quantification for asymmetric KC identification. Post-surgical changes in intermediate and near accommodation
  • Retina: Automated quantification algorithms for glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Enhanced depth and vitreous imaging for posterior vitreous evaluation. OCTA vascular feature comparison across multiple devices. Macular edema volume correlation with retinal tomography in DR patients
  • PS-OCT: Phase retardation maps reflecting collagen lamellar arrangement. Disrupted PR demonstrated in KC corneas versus healthy thin corneas. Detailed layer profiling of Bowman's layer, stroma, and epithelium. Phase retardation sensitivity outperforms conventional OCT
  • Cellular OCT: Real-time non-contact visualisation of individual corneal cell types. Strong clinical potential for early diagnosis of keratoconus, Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy, and infectious keratitis. Morphometric analysis and objective longitudinal monitoring

Additional emphasis is placed on:

  • Early detection of ectasia and asymmetric keratoconus through anterior corneal and Bowman's layer topography.
  • Quantitative evaluation of epithelial remodelling post-LASIK, SMILE, and PRK procedures.
  • Automated quantification of glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular edema via retinal OCT algorithms.
  • Birefringence imaging with PS-OCT for microstructural disease biomarkers.
  • Real-time cellular-resolution visualization of corneal structures without contact or anesthesia.

Together, these efforts support a diverse portfolio of Advanced Ocular Imaging research across multiple areas and engage both Imaging Scientists and Clinical Researchers.

Team

The Advanced Ocular Imaging programme is led by a multidisciplinary team of scientists and clinician researchers with expertise in:

  • Engineers
  • Clinicians
  • Imaging Scientists

Close collaboration between laboratory researchers and clinicians ensures that research priorities remain aligned with patient needs and real-world clinical applicability.

NVAULT - Advanced Ocular Imaging

Repeatability of a Commercially Available Adaptive Optics Visual Simulator and Aberrometer in Normal and Keratoconic Eyes.

Repeatability of a Commercially Available Adaptive Optics Visual Simulator and Aberrometer in Normal and Keratoconic Eyes

Authors: Shetty R, Kochar S, Grover T, Khamar P, Kusumgar P, Sainani K, Sinha Roy A.

Keywords: NA

PMID: 29117417

DOI: 10.3928/1081597X-20170718-02

Customized corneal crosslinking using different UVA beam profiles.

Customized corneal crosslinking using different UVA beam profiles.

Authors: Shetty R, Pahuja N, Roshan T, Deshmukh R, Francis M, Ghosh A, Sinha Roy A.

Keywords: NA

PMID: 28991335

DOI: 10.3928/1081597X-20170621-07

Application of high resolution OCT to evaluate irregularity of Bowman's layer in asymmetric keratoconus.

Application of high resolution OCT to evaluate irregularity of Bowman’s layer in asymmetric keratoconus

Authors: Pahuja N, Shroff R, Pahanpate P, Francis M, Veeboy L, Shetty R, Nuijts RM, Sinha Roy A.

Keywords: NA

PMID: 27555452

DOI: 10.1002/jbio.201600106

See All

Future Vision

The PS-OCT and Cellular-Resolution OCT programme is progressing towards:

  • Deploying a modular swept-source ultrahigh-resolution PS-OCT system combining polarization imaging, SLO fundus imaging, ocular biometry, and AI-driven analytics, with A-scan rates reaching 100 kHz and extended imaging depth.
  • Bringing precision, quantitative diagnostics from research into affordable routine clinical practice.
  • Advancing Cellular-Resolution OCT for early diagnosis of keratoconus, Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy, and infectious keratitis.
  • Expanding applications to surgical planning and postoperative evaluation.