Advancing AMD Diagnosis with Novel Spectroscopic Tools

This project aims to develop a first-of-its-kind imaging platform that combines optical coherence tomography with Raman spectroscopy to measure the chemical composition of AMD deposits in living patients.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss, linked to harmful deposits beneath the retina. This project aims to combine two cutting-edge imaging techniques, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and Raman spectroscopy, to analyze both the structure and chemistry of these deposits. By identifying high-risk molecular profiles, the research seeks to improve early detection, guide treatments, and provide new insights into AMD progression. This innovative approach could transform how AMD and other retinal diseases are diagnosed and managed.

This project introduces the first Raman spectroscopy system designed from the outset for direct integration into a clinical OCT device, enabling simultaneous structural and chemical imaging of drusen. A key innovation is a double-sparsity strategy: spatially targeting OCT-identified drusen, and spectrally sampling only the most informative Raman bands. Together these advances will make eye-safe, high-speed molecular profiling of individual drusen clinically feasible for the first time.

This technology will give clinicians the ability to monitor the chemistry of AMD deposits over time in living patients, enabling earlier identification of individuals at high risk of vision loss. By linking molecular changes in drusen to disease progression, the platform could improve patient stratification, guide treatment selection, and accelerate the evaluation of new AMD therapies. More broadly, the approach provides a roadmap for non-invasive chemical imaging in other retinal diseases.