Researchers at the University of Bristol have developed a new diagnostic modality to monitor the retina, a technique that produces high resolution color images like the ones above.
Using the new technique called ‘TEFI’ (Topical Endoscopic Fundal Imaging), Professor Andrew Dick, David Copland and the team from the University of Bristol’s Academic Unit of Ophthalmology, monitored changes in mice retina over time, without distress to the animals or the need for anesthesia.
The study focused on a condition in mice similar to human posterior uveitis, an inflammation that affects the back of the eye and which can be difficult to monitor using existing techniques. TEFI allowed the researchers to see changes to the eye that were previously undetectable.
“TEFI enhances our monitoring of clinical disease in a rapid and non-invasive fashion,” Copland said. “It will aid in the design of experimental protocols according to clinical observations.”
Professor Dick added: “Combined TEFI and histological methods enable the observation of clinical features and severity of disease, but information regarding the dynamics, phenotype, function and quantity of cellular traffic through the eye is only provided through detailed analysis of cell populations present in the eye at various stages of disease progression.”
The study, “The Clinical Time-Course of Experimental Autoimmune Uveoretinitis Using Topical Endoscopic Fundal Imaging with Histologic and Cellular Infiltrate Correlation,” was published this week in Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. It featured the use of Topical Endoscopic Fundal Imaging (TEFI), a technique that uses an endoscope with parallel illumination and observation channels connected to a digital camera.
Press release: New monitor for eye disease …
Full article in Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
Story @ The Engineer Online: Vision monitor…
Image: Clinical observations of EAU (Experimental Autoimmune Uveoretinitis) in B10.RIII mice using topical endoscopic fundus imaging. Shown are examples of clinical disease observed in a representative cohort of B10.RIII mice immunized for EAU using RBP-3161-180 in CFA. Images show raised and swollen optic nerve, with typical perivascular cuffing and caliber changes to vessels (arrowhead, A), and an inferior exudative retinal detachment (B), at day 20 pi. Images including the ciliary body demonstrate peripheral chorioretinal inflammation and inflammatory vascular changes of the marginal vein (C, D). Scattered flecks which correlate to histologic features of retinal folds, are typically observed after day 15 pi (E). Multiple choroidal lesions (arrowhead) associated with inflammatory vascular changes (perivascular cuffing) and swollen optic nerve persisted at day 28 pi (F).