Project description
Improving vision of people with cataracts
Cataracts impair people’s vision by blurring retinal images and reducing their contrast. The current treatment is cataract surgery, an invasive procedure which, although quite successful, may have side effects such as corneal edema, infection and retinal detachment. As a possible alternative, the EU-funded VICAT project proposes a non-invasive approach to improve vision of cataract patients. This approach is based on the manipulation of the light wavefront incident on the eye. This may be ultimately integrated into head-mounted devices. This project will lay the groundwork for effective practical vision correction for cataract patients.
Objective
Cataracts is a common ocular pathology involving an increase in the amount of intraocular light scattering. This causes vision impairment by blurring retinal images and reducing their contrast. The current treatment for this pathology is cataract surgery, which is an invasive procedure with possible side effects, such as corneal edema, infection or retinal detachment among others. In this work, we propose a non-invasive approach to improve vision through the cataractous lenses based on the manipulation of the light wavefront incident on the eye, that in the final end will be integrated into head mounted devices. The goal of this project is to develop a solid scientific frame for this technique to work, together with an initial working device. In our approach we propose the use of the natural fluorescence of the retina as feedback for the wavefront optimization algorithm, which allows the optimization of the Point Spread Function (PSF) of the eye. The optical memory effect of the cataracts will be characterized and used in the strategy to project images onto the retina with the maximal optimized PSF. A compact device capable of measuring and correcting vision will be developed in the final steps, preparing the ground for clinical tests, commercialization of the device and its integration with head mounted devices for practical vision correction through cataracts.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinator
30003 Murcia
Spain