Ocular Imaging | Singapore National Eye Centre

Overview

Ocular imaging is a dynamic and rapidly evolving field focused on developing and improving technologies that visualise the structures and functions of the eyes. It plays a vital role in early disease detection, monitoring treatment efficacy, and personalising patient care. Imaging biomarkers are identified in many eye diseases such as Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy (DR), and Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

Headed by Prof Leopold Schmetterer, the Ocular Imaging Research Group is leading research collective focused on advancing eye health through the development and application of innovative imaging technologies. Our mission is to transform eye care by innovating imaging technologies that provide deeper insights into ocular health. We aim to accelerate the translation of research findings into clinical practice to enhance patient care and outcomes.

Research Focus

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): We are at the forefront of improving OCT technology, which is crucial for high-resolution imaging of the eye’s internal structures, especially the retina and optic nerve.
Advanced Imaging Modalities: Our work on the development and application of cutting-edge imaging techniques such as adaptive optics, and multimodal imaging is dedicated to pioneering enhancements in technologies.
Retinal Imaging: Our work focuses on developing new imaging methods to detect and monitor retinal diseases, including AMD and DR, at their earliest stages.
Corneal Biomechanics: We explore novel imaging techniques to better understand corneal pathologies, which can lead to improved diagnostic and treatment strategies.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Imaging: By integrating AI and machine learning, we enhance the analysis and interpretation of ocular images, leading to more accurate and efficient diagnosis.

Projects

Clinical studies on the use of OCT Angiography (OCT-A) in patients with Glaucoma, DR and AMD
Evaluation of novel imaging biomarkers in high myopia
Use of ultrahigh-resolution OCT techniques for the characterisation of the corneal and ocular surface disease
Use of novel anterior segment OCT techniques to image glaucoma
Studying the structure-function relationship in ocular disease
Establishment of imaging parameters as surrogate outcomes for clinical studies
Quantification of blood flow in the micro-vasculature using Doppler OCT and OCT-A
Validation of OCT-A technology in experimental animal models
Development of novel ultrahigh-resolution OCT technology
Multimodal retinal imaging
OCT elastography to study biomechanical properties of tissue
Modelling of retinal and choroidal blood flow
Metabolic retinal imaging
Laser speckle technology to study ocular perfusion
Studying Ca²⁺ transport and neurovascular coupling in an animal model of glaucoma

Publications

Chua J, Singh S, Gong S, Wong D, Tan B, Toh AQ, Venketasubramanian N, Tan BY, Chong JR, Lai MKP, Chen CL, Schmetterer L. Combining OCT and OCT angiography Improves Differentiation of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease. Alzheimers Res Ther. 2026 Jan 27;18(1):39.
Chua J, Li C, Antochi F, Toma E, Wong D, Tan B, Garhöfer G, Hilal S, Popa-Cherecheanu A, Chen CL, Schmetterer L. Utilizing Deep Learning to Predict Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment with Optical Coherence Tomography. Alzheimers Dement (Amst). 2025 Jan 14;17(1):e70041. doi: 10.1002/dad2.70041. PMID: 39811700; PMCID: PMC11730192.
Tan B, Li H, Zhuo Y, Han L, Mupparapu R, Nanni D, Barathi VA, Palanker D, Schmetterer L, Ling T. Light-evoked Deformations in Rod Photoreceptors, Pigment Epithelium and Subretinal Space Revealed by Prolonged and Multilayered Optoretinography. Nat Commun. 2024 Jun 19;15(1):5156.
Chua J, Li C, Chong R, Wong TT, Husain R, Aung T, Schmetterer L, Wong DWK. Enhancing the Structure-function Relationship in Glaucoma using Anatomical Compensation of Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer. Br J Ophthalmol. 2024 May 7;108(2):bjo-2023-324792.
Bellemo V, Kumar Das A, Sreng S, Chua J, Wong D, Shah J, Jonas R, Tan B, Liu X, Xu X, Tan GSW, Agrawal R, Ting DSW, Yong L, Schmetterer L. Optical Coherence Tomography Choroidal Enhancement using Generative Deep Learning. NPJ Digit Med. 2024 May 4;7(1):115.
Li Y, Yip M, Ning Y, Chung J, Toh A, Leow C, Liu N, Ting D, Schmetterer L, Saw SM, Jonas JB, Chia A, Ang M. Topical Atropine for Childhood Myopia Control: The Atropine Treatment Long-term Assessment Study. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2024 Jan 1;142(1):15-23.
Schmetterer L, Scholl H, Garhöfer G, Janeschitz-Kriegl L, Corvi F, Sadda SR, Medeiros FA. Endpoints for Clinical Trials in Ophthalmology. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2023 Nov;97:101160.
Liu X, Jiang L, Ke M, Sigal IA, Chua J, Hoang QV, Chia AW, Najjar RP, Tan B, Cheong J, Bellemo V, Chong RS, Girard MJA, Ang M, Liu M, Garhöfer G, Barathi VA, Saw SM, Villiger M, Schmetterer L. Posterior Scleral Birefringence Measured by Triple-input Polarization-sensitive Imaging as a Biomarker of Myopia Progression. Nat Biomed Eng. 2023 Aug;7(8):986-1000.
Foo LL, Lim GYS, Lanca C, Wong CW, Hoang QV, Zhang XJ, Yam JC, Schmetterer L, Chia A, Wong TY, Ting DSW, Saw SM, Ang M. Deep Learning System to Predict the 5-year Risk of High Myopia using Fundus Imaging in Children. NPJ Digit Med. 2023 Jan 26;6(1):10.
Sreejith Kumar AJ, Chong RS, Crowston JG, Chua J, Bujor I, Husain R, Vithana EN, Girard MJA, Ting DSW, Cheng CY, Aung T, Popa-Cherecheanu A, Schmetterer L, Wong D. Evaluation of Generative Adversarial Networks for High-resolution Synthetic Image Generation of Circumpapillary Optical Coherence Tomography Images for Glaucoma. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2022 Oct 1;140(10):974-981.
Chua J, Li C, Ho LKH, Wong D, Tan B, Yao X, Gan A, Schwarzhans F, Garhöfer G, Sng CCA, Hilal S, Venketasubramanian N, Cheung CY, Fischer G, Vass C, Wong TY, Chen CL, Schmetterer L. A Multi-regression Framework to Improve Diagnostic Ability of Optical Coherence Tomography Retinal Biomarkers to Discriminate Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease. Alzheimers Res Ther. 2022 Mar 10;14(1):41.

Members

Our interdisciplinary group brings together expertise from various disciplines such as ophthalmology, optometry, biomedical engineering, and computer science, to foster a holistic approach against the boundaries of ocular imaging.

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