18^th European Ophthalmology Congress

Biography

Biography: Laura Fanea

Abstract

Statement of the Problem: Blindness and visual impairment related problems have become a major socioeconomic issue during the last decades. Most of them can be avoided, prevented or treated through appropriate programs. Such programs could potentially focus on the implementation of MRI techniques in Ophthalmology due to lower energy deposition in the tissue imaged, no requirement for a transparent light path through the eye during image acquisition, and deep tissue penetration. MRI offers both qualitative and quantitative information in a slice-by-slice manner in scanning times of only a few minutes. Visualization of both superficial and internal ocular anatomical pathophysiology with a wide ranging coverage of physicochemical eye properties can be achieved using MRI. The purpose of this study is to develop a human eye MRI chart for future automated medical diagnosis and MRI implementation in Ophthalmology. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: 15 healthy subjects volunteered to undergo MRI of both eyes. 3T MRI was performed using a circular surface coil detector with a 15 minute acquisition protocol. The reference MRI parameters: relaxation times (T₁ and T₂) and retina/choroid complex layer thicknesses were calculated in the eye regions visualized. Findings: Visualization of the main eye structures, including three layers in the retina/choroid complex region of the normal human eye was achieved. An MRI chart of the normal human eye was developed using the reference parameters calculated on the post-processed images. A scale for future automated medical diagnosis in Ophthalmology is also proposed based on the reference MRI parameters calculated. Conclusion & Significance: Multiparametric MRI can be used to, non-invasively, diagnose, stage, and evaluate ocular pathology. Feasibility of MRI implementation in Ophthalmology is demonstrated in this study. Hardware and software developments of anatomically-shaped scanners will make the implementation of the MRI techniques in Ophthalmology more affordable, but also medical staff and patient friendlier.