BME Seminar Series: Dr. Jennifer J. Hunter

Seeing Cellular Mosaics in the Living Eye

Assistant Professor, Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester

Abstract

The visualization of individual cells in the living retina has proven invaluable in the study of normal and diseased retinal structure and function. Many challenges, including image degradation from ocular aberrations, scatter, and eye movements, have been overcome, allowing images of blood cells in the smallest capillaries and single cones in the photoreceptor mosaic. Other cell layers in the retina are either transparent or opaque and are thus more difficult to visualize. However, the addition of fluorescence imaging capabilities to a scanning laser ophthalmoscope equipped with adaptive optics is making it possible to successfully image a larger variety of cells. With single photon-fluorescence, the retinal pigment epithelium, a single layer of cells behind the cones that provide critical support for photoreceptors, is now accessible. Two-photon fluorescence imaging in the living eye provides a new method to safely image not only retinal structure, but also to assess retinal function.