Hyperspectral retinal imaging is a non-invasive imaging modality in which a series of images of the retina are captured using light of different wavelengths. The resulting "hypercube" of data provides a wealth of information about the retinal structure. Our group has developed evidence supporting a role for this technology in the detection of retinal amyloid beta in Alzheimer's disease. We are undertaking further studies to establish the role of this method in the assessment of people with dementia, or those at risk of Alzheimer's disease.
The study involves the use of cameras to take specialised photographs of your eye. It includes photography with two new types of cameras, known as hyperspectral cameras. These cameras are similar to a standard retinal camera, however instead of using a white-light flash, they use a multicoloured flash of light. As these cameras have recently been developed, they are not approved for use in routine eye care in Australia ('unapproved therapeutic good'). The use of these cameras in this research has been approved by the Human Research and Ethics Committee of the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital following scientific and ethical review. The Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia has been notified of the use of these cameras for research purposes under the Clinical Trial Notification (CTN) scheme.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
186
Hyperspectral imaging is performed with the Metabolic Hyperspectral Retinal Camera (Optina Diagnostic, Montreal, Canada) and a prototype camera developed by researchers at the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA). The Metabolic Hyperspectral Retinal Camera is similar to a typical fundus imager but it incorporates a tunable light source which is able to transmit safe light levels within a wavelength range covering the visible to near infrared with a narrow bandwidth (\< 3nm). This instrument is capable of imaging a 26° field-of-view of retina at 90 wavelengths in less than a second, thus minimizing discomfort and limiting the influence of eye movements. The hyperspectral camera developed by CERA researchers is a non-mydriatic fundus camera that uses light emitting diodes (LEDs) and an optical variable bandpass filter to tune the illumination wavelengths.
The Centre for Eye Research Australia
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Diagnostic performance of hyperspectral retinal imaging for detection of Alzheimer's disease-related beta-amyloid
Assessment of whether hyperspectral retinal imaging can distinguish participants with Alzheimer's disease from cognitively healthy controls based on retinal spectral reflectance signatures (particularly in the 480-520 nm wavelength range). Performance will be evaluated using quantitative image-derived biomarkers and classification accuracy (e.g., sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve) generated from computer-assisted image analysis.
Time frame: Single study visit (baseline imaging session; approximately 60 minutes)
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