The impact of horizontal offset of the cornea during corneal specular microscopy

• We are developing automated morphometric analysis of the corneal endothelium. Here, the general impact of horizontal offset of the cornea on morphometry was examined. Errors due to perspective during imaging with a Clinical Specular Microscope (CSM) were analyzed considering semi automated analysis software and fully automated Fourier analysis software. Methods: A mathematical model of the cornea was created. Trigonometry was applied to find the relationship between the horizontal offset of the cornea relative to the microscope objective, and the consecutive errors from perspective changes in the image. An experimental setup was created using a cornea made of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The posterior surface of the PMMA cornea was horizontally marked. The PMMA cornea was placed in a holder. Difference in refractive index between real endothelium and aqueous humor was emulated using high refractive index liquid. Images with varying horizontal offset on the PMMA corneal posterior surface, along with their relative offset coordinates were captured, using CSM. Results: Experiments using controlled offset of the cornea in relation to its center estimated that analyzable images can be acquired within an interval of 1.26 mm, using central cornea sampling CSM. Because of refractive indices along with light scattering differences between the corneal tissue and PMMA , the 1.26 mm interval should be considered a first estimate for feasible CSM images. The effect of corneal endothelial offset during imaging with CSM or fully automated Fourier analysis should be considered.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Radiologi och bildbehandling (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Oftalmologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Ophthalmology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Cornea

Endothelium

Fourier

Microscopy

Morphometrics

Offset

Computer software

Endothelial cells

Fourier analysis

Light scattering

Mathematical models

Polymethyl methacrylates

Corneal specular microscopy

Biological organs

Ophtalmiatrics

Ophtalmology

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