Oxygen in Retinal Vessels

My research focuses on assessing oxygen tension in retinal blood vessels from phosphorescence lifetime imaging data. To acquire phosphorescence lifetime images, a diode laser at a wavelength of 532 nm is expanded to a line with a cylindrical lens and focused at an oblique angle on the retina following intravenous injection of an oxygen-sensitive molecular probe. The level of retinal oxygenation is thought to play a significant role in retinal diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy and vascular occlusions. Imaging oxygen tension in the retinal vasculatures will provide information on fundamental mechanisms that implicate hypoxia in the development of retinal pathologies. The long-term goal of this project is to broaden knowledge of disease patho-physiology, and thereby advance diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.