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Novel Optical Imaging Technologies in Ophthalmology and Neuroscience: Advances and Applications

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A special issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomedical Optics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 2020

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Prof. Dr. Jae-Ho Han

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1. Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering (Primary), Korea University, Seoul 136-701, Republic of Korea
2. Department of Artificial Intelligence (Secondary), Korea University, Seoul 136-701, Republic of Korea
Interests: artificial intelligence in biomedicine; diagnosis of retinal diseases; deep learning for ophthalmology images; neuroscience research
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Advances in optical imaging technologies have revolutionized our understanding of the eye and brain, enabling unprecedented visualization of cellular and molecular processes in health and disease. This Special Issue, "Novel Optical Imaging Technologies in Ophthalmology and Neuroscience: Advances and Applications", highlights cutting-edge innovations. These technologies offer transformative potential for diagnosing and monitoring conditions such as glaucoma, retinal degeneration, and neurodegenerative disorders.

We invite researchers and clinicians to contribute original research articles, reviews, case reports, brief reports, and communications that explore the development, validation, and clinical application of these imaging modalities. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, this issue aims to accelerate progress in vision science and neuroimaging.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Prof. Dr. Jae-Ho Han
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diagnostics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

optical imaging
ophthalmology
neuroscience
diagnosis
prognosis

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 693 KB

Open AccessArticle

Correlations Between OCTA Parameters and Clinical Changes in Patients Newly Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis

by Ion Iulian Enache, Vlad Eugen Tiu, Cătălina Andreea Anghel, Alina Popa Cherecheanu, Mihai Bostan, Jacqueline Chua, Chi Li, Jia Wei Cheong, Leopold Schmetterer and Cristina Tiu

Diagnostics 2026, 16(6), 828; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16060828 - 11 Mar 2026

Viewed by 192

Abstract

Background: The eye has shown potential as a reliable, readily accessible and clinically relevant site for investigating patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) shows promise in revealing new metabolic and vascular elements driving multiple sclerosis (MS) disease pathology. This study aimed to explore correlations between OCTA parameters and clinical characteristics in newly diagnosed relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS) patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, forty-one newly diagnosed RRMS patients underwent comprehensive evaluations, including neurological examinations, functional and cognitive tests (9-Hole Peg Test, Montreal Cognitive Assessment), and OCT/OCTA scans. Multiple regression analyses assessed correlations between OCT/OCTA parameters and baseline clinical characteristics. Results: Lower superficial capillary plexus (SCP) vessel density was associated with longer disease duration, higher EDSS scores (visual, pyramidal, cerebellar, ambulation), and impaired 9-Hole Peg Test performance, especially in the non-dominant hand. Higher values of choriocapillaris (CC) flow voids correlated with worse cognitive performance (MoCA). Structural OCT parameters showed limited clinical correlations. Conclusions: OCTA-derived parameters are associated with disability, fine motor function, and cognitive performance in newly diagnosed RRMS patients without prior ON. These findings suggest that retinal vascular alterations may reflect early neurodegenerative processes and provide complementary information beyond structural OCT metrics. OCTA may represent a sensitive, non-invasive imaging biomarker for patient assessment in early MS. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Optical Imaging Technologies in Ophthalmology and Neuroscience: Advances and Applications)

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15 pages, 2699 KB

Open AccessArticle

Functional and Structural Analysis of the Central Retina According to the Fundus Autofluorescence Pattern in Patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa

by Marta P. Wiącek, Kinga Skorupińska, Miszela Kałachurska and Anna Machalińska

Diagnostics 2026, 16(4), 597; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16040597 - 17 Feb 2026

Viewed by 382

Abstract

Background: This study evaluated morphological and functional differences among eyes with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) classified according to fundus autofluorescence (FAF) patterns. Methods: A total of 146 eyes from 73 patients with RP were analysed. Based on FAF imaging, eyes were classified as having regular hyperautofluorescent rings (n = 23), irregular rings (n = 76), or absent rings (n = 47). Participants underwent best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), contrast sensitivity, 10–2 and 30–2 static perimetry, multifocal electroretinography (mfERG), and optical coherence tomography (OCT). FAF morphometrics included ring diameters and area. Results: Eyes with a regular FAF ring demonstrated significantly better visual function than those with irregular or absent rings, including higher BCVA (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001) and greater contrast sensitivity (both p < 0.001). The mfERG amplitude density in the first ring was higher in regular than irregular FAF patterns (p = 0.034). Eyes with irregular FAF showed more advanced visual field loss, with lower mean deviation on 10–2 (p = 0.042) and 30–2 perimetry (p = 0.027). In the regular-ring group, the ellipsoid zone was predominantly intact (p = 0.012). The hyperautofluorescent ring area correlated positively with mfERG amplitude density in the first and second rings (Rs = +0.573, p = 0.016; Rs = +0.736, p = 0.001) and with macular volume (Rs = +0.667, p = 0.003). Conclusions: FAF patterns reflect central retinal functional and structural impairment in RP. Therefore, incorporating FAF imaging into the diagnostic algorithm is valuable for monitoring disease progression. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Optical Imaging Technologies in Ophthalmology and Neuroscience: Advances and Applications)

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12 pages, 1554 KB

Open AccessArticle

Choriocapillaris Flow and Retinal Vascular Fractal Dimension in Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration

by Mine Ozturk and Abdullah Ağın

Diagnostics 2026, 16(3), 422; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16030422 - 1 Feb 2026

Viewed by 267

Abstract

Background/Objective: To evaluate the association between optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA)-derived choriocapillaris flow (CCflow), retinal vascular fractal dimension (FD), and drusen burden in eyes with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: This retrospective study included 113 eyes from 73 patients with dry AMD. Eyes were classified into large and small drusen groups based on median drusen area. OCTA-derived CCflow and FD indices of the superficial and deep capillary plexuses were analyzed. Patient-level clustered analyses were performed using linear mixed-effects and generalized estimating equation models to account for inter-eye correlation. Results: Eyes with large drusen showed significantly lower CCflow compared with those with small drusen (p < 0.001), whereas FDsup did not differ between groups, and FDdeep demonstrated only a near-significant trend toward higher values. CCflow was moderately and negatively correlated with drusen area (ρ = −0.452, p < 0.001), whereas FDdeep showed no significant correlation in unadjusted analyses (ρ = 0.137, p = 0.148). In patient-level age-adjusted multivariable models accounting for inter-eye dependency, CCflow remained independently associated with drusen burden, while FDdeep demonstrated an independent association only after adjustment for age. Conclusions: Reduced CCflow is independently associated with increased drusen burden in dry AMD. FD metrics provide complementary descriptive information regarding microvascular remodeling but do not function as independent biomarkers. CCflow may serve as a robust quantitative indicator of early choroidal compromise in dry AMD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Optical Imaging Technologies in Ophthalmology and Neuroscience: Advances and Applications)

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14 pages, 3548 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Characterization of Peripheral Retinal Degenerations and Rhegmatogenous Lesions Using Ultra-Widefield Swept Source OCT Integrated with a Novel Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope

by Daniela Bacherini, Clara Rizzo, Giulio Vicini, Diego Luciani, Lorenzo Vannozzi, Gianni Virgili, Fabrizio Giansanti and Cristina Nicolosi

Diagnostics 2025, 15(22), 2930; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15222930 - 20 Nov 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 970

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the implementation of ultra-widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) in characterizing peripheral retinal degenerations and rhegmatogenous lesions, and to assess its potential implications for clinical management. These lesions are often challenging to visualize with conventional techniques, highlighting the need for advanced imaging modalities to improve detection and characterization. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study involving patients diagnosed with peripheral retinal degenerations and/or rhegmatogenous lesions referred to our center. All participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmological evaluation, including slit-lamp biomicroscopy, dilated fundus examination, and peripheral SS-OCT imaging. Key parameters assessed included the presence of vitreoretinal attachment, vitreous traction, full-thickness retinal defects, and subretinal fluid associated with the peripheral lesions under investigation. Results: A total of 107 eyes from 95 patients were included. The mean spherical equivalent was −2.18 ± 2.5 diopters, and mean BCVA was 0.03 ± 0.11. Peripheral SS-OCT imaging successfully captured and characterized 130 retinal lesions, including retinal tears (n = 34), lattice degeneration (n = 25), retinal holes (n = 21), peripheral retinoschisis (n = 17), and schisis/detachment (n = 7). Less commonly observed lesions were snail track degeneration (n = 4), white without pressure (n = 4) microcystic degeneration (n = 2), dialysis (n = 2), condensed vitreous (n = 2), and paving stone degeneration (n = 1). SS-OCT provided high-resolution visualization of the peripheral retina and vitreoretinal interface, revealing findings such as vitreous traction, everted edges in retinal holes, and associated subretinal fluid, some of which were not clinically detectable and, in several cases, directly influenced management decisions. Conclusions: Ultra-widefield SS-OCT significantly enhanced the visualization of peripheral retinal degenerations and rhegmatogenous lesions, providing clinically meaningful details that may influence diagnosis and clinical decision-making. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Optical Imaging Technologies in Ophthalmology and Neuroscience: Advances and Applications)

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