# Developing an ultrafast fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy system for retinal imaging

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN · 2022 · $176,993

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that affects the central part of the retina and leads
to impairments in central vision and sharp vision. According to the report from Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, AMD affects ~0.8% of people in US between 50 and 60, 1.5% between 60 and 70, ~4.8% between
70 and 80, and nearly 12% over 80 years old. Fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy (FLIO) has become
an important tool in retinal diagnosis as it provides critical information about retina that the traditional fundus
autofluorescence microscopy cannot provide. Whereas more demonstrations of FLIO in retina diagnosis at
different stages of AMD have been shown in recent years, FLIO has not reached widespread use in clinics due
to a number of fundamental limitations. Here we are developing an ultrafast fluorescence lifetime imaging
ophthalmoscopy (uFLIO) system for rapid acquisition of retinal fundus autofluorescence and reconstruction of
fluorescence lifetime images around the posterior pole of retina. The acquired autofluorescence lifetime
information will help us understand the states of the endogenous fluorophores within the retina, and their roles
and changes during the development of retinal diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10470836
- **Project number:** 5R21EY033106-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
- **Principal Investigator:** Hsin-Chih Yeh
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $176,993
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10470836

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10470836, Developing an ultrafast fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy system for retinal imaging (5R21EY033106-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10470836. Licensed CC0.

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