Retinal Disorders

The retina is a layer of tissue at the back of the eye that detects light and sends messages to the brain. Retinal disorders affect vision and can even cause blindness.

Programs + Services

Ophthalmology (New England Eye Center)

Ophthalmology (New England Eye Center) at Tufts Medical Center in Boston specializes in the testing and treatment of all types of eye diseases and visual problems.
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Research + Clinical Trials

Adaptive Optics in Retinal Disorders

Adaptive optics (AO) is a non-invasive imaging technology of the eye that allows for precise and detailed observations of neuroretinal structures in vivo. By counteracting optical aberrations using a deformable mirror, AO provides higher resolution and contrast en face retinal imaging than any other imaging technology, resulting in visualization of the microscopic structures of the retina. AO has already been used in the diagnosis and monitoring of common retinal diseases like diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and macular telangiectasia. Because of the increased quality in AO images, it can show subtle changes to eye structure and function before vision is noticeably impaired. Better understanding these changes could provide rational for earlier intervention to prevent deterioration in patient vision due to retinal diseases. This study seeks to assess possible structural and functional changes over the course of the disease progression in a variety of retinal disorders by using AO in combination with optical coherence tomography imaging and microperimetry. This could allow for earlier detection of diseases, provide rationale for earlier intervention, and provide a means of tracking and managing disease progression.
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