UC Davis

Hundreds of millions of people worldwide are affected by visual disabilities, due to various factors, including genetics, injury, infection, or aging. Majority of visual impairment are avoidable with timely intervention and early detection. The high prevalence of avoidable visual impairment is primarily due to underutilization of eye care services, stemming from challenges related to availability, accessibility, and affordability. Inadequate numbers of trained professionals pose a significant obstacle in expanding access to eye care services, particularly in rural areas with higher demand. Additionally, individuals with disabilities, and those facing financial and socioeconomic barriers encounter greater challenges in accessing eye care services, further exacerbating the issue.

Ocular imaging modalities, such as Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and fundus imaging, are vital for diagnosing retinal diseases. OCT generates high-resolution images of the retina, enabling early detection of abnormalities, while fundus imaging captures photographs of the eye's back, useful for screening retinal diseases. However, clinical OCT systems are large and require dedicated space, limiting their use in compact or field settings. Patients may also face challenges due to the need for head stabilization, especially those with movement difficulties or individuals with mental, physical or developmental disabilities.

A virtual reality (VR)-based headset that can perform multi-modal retinal imaging is designed, specifically OCT and scanning laser ophthalmoscopy. The headset is designed to be worn by patients while watching videos, enabling the simultaneous capture of OCT and fundus images. The project aims to overcome limitations by eliminating the requirement for mechanical head stabilization and skilled operators. Moreover, the use of portable VR headsets can enhance the affordability of eye care by reducing the need for dedicated space and trained professionals, and potentially introducing automation for image capture and diagnosis. Optical simulations are performed to test the performance of the proposed system in terms of retinal coverage and resolution. The feasibility of pupil tracking and the ability to control the user's gaze to improve optical performance is tested.