Kudenov and Escuti Work to Improve Detection of Eye Diseases

Dr. Michael Kudenov and Dr. Michael Escuti have been awarded $427,376 by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for research and development of a new type of rapid snapshot imaging polarimeter that will enable real-time full polarimetric video of the retina to be able to detect diseases like glaucoma early. 


Dr. Michael Kudenov

Dr. Michael Kudenov

Glaucoma is an eye condition that, if left untreated, could lead to partial or full blindness. Many people have glaucoma without realizing it because in the early stages, there are no noticeable symptoms. Additionally, it is difficult to detect glaucoma early because the current technology for doing so is limited by low temporal resolution and high cost.

Dr. Michael Escuti

Dr. Michael Escuti

Dr. Michael Kudenov, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Dr. Michael Escuti, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, have been awarded $427,376 by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for research and development of a new type of rapid snapshot imaging polarimeter that will enable real-time full polarimetric video of the retina to be able to detect diseases like glaucoma early.  While spectral imaging — a current method of detection — can often detect chemicals in a scene, polarimetry can sense structural effects. Thus, polarimeters have proven effective in the imaging of retinal tissues, and are able to sense tissue degradation due to early onset of ocular diseases, such as glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Their proposal focuses on the research and development of a new type of rapid snapshot imaging polarimeter that, for the first time, will be capable of real-time Mueller matrix imaging. The polarimeter will be developed for attachment onto a fundus camera to observe the efficacy of real-time full Mueller matrix measurements. Dr. Kudenov and Dr. Escuti are working jointly with Dr. Amir Kashani at the University of Southern California’s Eye Institute and Dr. Jim Schwiegerling at the University of Arizona’s College of Optical Sciences. Dr. Kashani will be performing clinical and animal trials and Dr. Schwiegerling will aid in the implementation of error compensation techniques.

The award will run from August 1st, 2014 to July 31st, 2016.

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