Retinal Imaging
Retinal Imaging - Related Videos
09:17
Using Retinal Imaging to Study Dementia
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Cited by 19 •
2017
The retina shares prominent similarities with the brain and thus represents a unique window to study vasculature and neuronal structure in the brain non-invasively. This protocol describes a method to study dementia using retinal imaging techniques. This method can potentially aid in diagnosis and risk assessment of dementia.
08:32
Optimized Protocol for Retinal Wholemount Preparation for Imaging and Immunohistochemistry
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Cited by 44 •
2013
The protocol described here is for structural assessment of a wholemount retinal preparation. This includes descriptions of tissue dissection, mounting onto a hydrophilized polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane insert, bolus loading with fluorescent markers, and a comparison of fixation with carbodiimide and paraformaldehyde for immunohistochemical analysis of cellular and synaptic components.
04:55
In Vivo Imaging of Retinal Microglia in a Mouse Model of Glaucoma
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2025
Source: Bosco, A., et al. In Vivo Dynamics of Retinal Microglial Activation During Neurodegeneration: Confocal Ophthalmoscopic Imaging and Cell Morphometry in Mouse Glaucoma. J. Vis. Exp. (2015) This video demonstrates in vivo imaging of retinal microglia in a mouse model of glaucoma. A transgenic mouse with fluorescent protein-expressing retinal microglia is positioned under an ophthalmoscope. Infrared illumination is used to locate the optic nerve head (ONH), and the focal plane is...
03:11
High-Resolution Imaging of Neurotransmitter Receptors at Retinal Synapses
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2025
Source: Zhang, J., et al. High-Resolution Quantitative Immunogold Analysis of Membrane Receptors at Retinal Ribbon Synapses. J. Vis. Exp. (2016)This video demonstrates an electron microscopy technique for visualizing neurotransmitter receptor localization in retinal synapses. The retinal sections contain retinal ganglion cells that exhibit membrane-bound neurotransmitter receptors and are labeled with cholera toxin subunit B (CTB). Upon labeling the markers with gold nanoparticle-conjugated...
11:54
Imaging Exocytosis in Retinal Bipolar Cells with TIRF Microscopy
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Cited by 18 •
2009
In this video, we demonstrate how to label and visualize single synaptic vesicle exocytosis and trafficking in goldfish retinal bipolar cells using total internal reflectance fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy.
FAQs
Fundus photography captures reflected light from the retinal surface, whereas optical coherence tomography, or OCT, uses low-coherence interferometry to measure depth-resolved backscattering. The first approach emphasizes a surface view, while the second produces cross-sectional structural information. Distinguishing these signals helps engineers select or combine modalities according to the imaging task and desired biomarker.
Depth-resolved backscattering is valuable because it preserves information about where optical signals arise within the retina, not only whether light returns from the eye. OCT can therefore provide cross-sectional views that complement surface photographs. In bioengineering, this depth information supports image analysis methods designed to quantify retinal structure and track changes relevant to disease assessment.
Bioengineers combine imaging hardware with computational image analysis to convert retinal appearance into measurable features. Automated segmentation can identify image regions or structures consistently, while quantitative biomarkers summarize characteristics useful for assessment. These outputs move retinal imaging beyond visual inspection and support image-based diagnostics, disease monitoring, and the design of improved analytical systems.
Multimodal systems bring together complementary retinal measurements rather than relying on one type of image. Surface information from fundus photography can be considered alongside cross-sectional information from OCT, allowing computational methods to integrate distinct views of retinal structure. This engineering strategy can improve early detection and contribute to more personalized monitoring of disease progression.
A workflow can begin with image acquisition using fundus photography, OCT, or both, followed by computational analysis of the resulting retinal images. Automated segmentation and other image-based methods can then extract features for quantitative biomarkers or diagnostic support. The final outputs are intended to aid assessment and monitoring, rather than merely produce a visual record.
Retinal imaging supports investigation of diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. Its value comes from linking visible retinal structure and blood-vessel information with computationally derived measurements. Depending on the system and analysis approach, these measurements can support image-based diagnosis, earlier detection, or monitoring of disease progression.
Automated analysis and quantitative biomarkers can make retinal examinations more informative by providing measurements that support comparison over time. When combined with multimodal imaging, these tools can capture complementary structural information and help tailor monitoring to disease status. In bioengineering, the goal is not only to acquire images, but also to develop systems that improve detection and follow progression in a more individualized way.