Changes in spatial extent and peak double optical density of human macular pigment with age

Spatial and spatio-temporal statistical analyses of retinal images: a review of methods and applications

Background

Clinical research and management of retinal diseases greatly depend on the interpretation of retinal images and often longitudinally collected images. Retinal images provide context for spatial data, namely the location of specific pathologies within the retina. Longitudinally collected images can show how clinical events at one point can affect the retina over time. In this review, we aimed to assess statistical approaches to spatial and spatio-temporal data in retinal images. We also review the spatio-temporal modelling approaches used in other medical image types.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive literature review of both spatial or spatio-temporal approaches and non-spatial approaches to the statistical analysis of retinal images. The key methodological and clinical characteristics of published papers were extracted. We also investigated whether clinical variables and spatial correlation were accounted for in the analysis.

Results

Thirty-four papers that included retinal imaging data were identified for full-text information extraction. Only 11 (32.4%) papers used spatial or spatio-temporal statistical methods to analyse images, others (23 papers, 67.6%) used non-spatial methods. Twenty-eight (82.4%) papers reported images collected cross-sectionally, while 6 (17.6%) papers reported analyses on images collected longitudinally. In imaging areas outside of ophthalmology, 19 papers were identified with spatio-temporal analysis, and multiple statistical methods were recorded.

Conclusions

In future statistical analyses of retinal images, it will be beneficial to clearly define and report the spatial distributions studied, report the spatial correlations, combine imaging data with clinical variables into analysis if available, and clearly state the software or packages used.

Influence of age and spectral power distribution on mesopic visual sensitivity

The ability of the human visual system to detect stimuli at low illumination levels provides awareness of potential risks. The influence of age and spectral power distribution on mesopic spectral sensitivity is analyzed. Two typical light sources are used, a high-pressure sodium lamp (HPS), with a higher content of long wavelengths, and a metal halide lamp (MH), with a higher content of short wavelengths. Two experiments were performed, using a two-channel Maxwellian-view optical system to measure contrast threshold under different experimental conditions. In Experiment 1, three age groups (young, middle-aged and old, n = 2 each), two retinal locations (on-axis and off-axis vision), four background luminances (0.01, 0.07, 0.45, and 3.2 cd/m²), and two photometry systems (photopic and the MES2 systems) were considered. In Experiment 2, contrast threshold measurement was performed with two age groups (young and old, n = 11 each), one retinal location (off-axis vision), one background luminance (0.01 cd/m²), and two photometry systems (photopic and the MES2 systems). In on-axis vision, neither age nor spectral power distribution have an effect on the contrast threshold. In off-axis vision, however, a significant interaction between age and spectral power distribution is obtained, albeit only at 0.01 cd/m² with an MH lamp. Only at this lowest background luminance was the greater content of short wavelengths of this lamp responsible for higher rod stimulation in off-axis vision, with the subsequent improvement in detection performance in young subjects. However, the effect of diffused light inside the aged eye counteracted the benefits of increased rod sensitivity for the MH lamp.

Bayer Filter Snapshot Hyperspectral Fundus Camera for Human Retinal Imaging

PURPOSE

To demonstrate the versatility and performance of a compact Bayer filter snapshot hyperspectral fundus camera for in-vivo clinical applications including retinal oximetry and macular pigment optical density measurements.

METHODS

12 healthy volunteers were recruited under an Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved protocol. Fundus images were taken with a custom hyperspectral camera with a spectral range of 460-630 nm. We determined retinal vascular oxygen saturation (sO₂) for the healthy population using the captured spectra by least squares curve fitting. Additionally, macular pigment optical density was localized and visualized using multispectral reflectometry from selected wavelengths.

RESULTS

We successfully determined the mean sO₂ of arteries and veins of each subject (ages 21-80) with excellent intrasubject repeatability (1.4% standard deviation). The mean arterial sO₂ for all subjects was 90.9% ± 2.5%, whereas the mean venous sO₂ for all subjects was 64.5% ± 3.5%. The mean artery-vein (A-V) difference in sO₂ varied between 20.5% and 31.9%. In addition, we were able to reveal and quantify macular pigment optical density.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated a single imaging tool capable of oxygen saturation and macular pigment density measurements in vivo. The unique combination of broad spectral range, high spectral-spatial resolution, rapid and robust imaging capability, and compact design make this system a valuable tool for multifunction spectral imaging that can be easily performed in a clinic setting.