# Visible-light OCT angiography, velocimetry, and oximetry for characterizing retinal vascular alterations in glaucoma

> **NIH NIH R01** · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $552,591

## Abstract

Project Summary
Glaucoma damage to the optic nerve and impairment of vision are progressive and irreversible. Understanding
mechanisms of glaucomatous injury will help to develop new approaches for treatments that can be used along
with traditional therapies that lower intraocular pressure (IOP). Recent developments in optical coherence
tomography (OCT) angiography have brought increased attention to the role of the inner retinal circulation in
glaucoma. To improve our understanding of retinal vascular alterations in glaucoma, we can take advantage of
recent developments in visible-light OCT (vis-OCT) to characterize simultaneously tissue structure, vessel
density, blood flow and oxygenation. The goal of this project is to further advance vis-OCT by attaining
capillary-level measurements, test the value of measuring their local alterations as early indicators of glaucoma
and glaucomatous progression and use this to evaluate impaired retinal autoregulation from retinal ganglion
cell (RGC) loss as a potential cause of increased susceptibility in advanced glaucoma.
In Specific Aim 1 we will develop high-speed, high-sensitivity, high-resolution vis-OCT. The speed will be
double that of the current system. A more stable supercontinuum laser will be used to improve system
sensitivity, and a tighter focus will be used to improve lateral resolution. This will enable complete detection of
capillaries that may be vulnerable to vascular dysfunction.
Specific Aim 2 will develop quantitative OCT angiography, velocimetry and oximetry in capillaries as well as
arteries and veins. Building on the high-resolution, high-contrast scans acquired in Aim 1, we will use machine
learning to segment capillary plexuses, and advanced image processing to extract capillary architecture. Aided
by this capillary architecture, we will automatically measure blood flow and oxygenation in capillary segments
and incorporate them into a real-time platform.
Specific Aim 3 will use this system to demonstrate that acute loss of RGCs, produced by optic nerve
transection, alters retinal capillary plexus density, oximetry and velocimetry over time and that these changes
precede altered oximetry and flow in larger retinal vessels. We will also show that loss of RGCs impairs the
autoregulatory response to acute IOP challenge.
In Specific Aim 4, we will demonstrate that optic nerve injury in a model of controlled, elevated IOP produces
early alterations in capillary velocimetry, oximetry and autoregulation, show that they are more persistent with
advanced injury, and demonstrate the pathophysiologic consequences of these observations.
Successful development of this new technology will improve methods of early glaucoma diagnosis and
detection of progression. Better understanding of retinal vascular factors that lead to increased susceptibility in
advanced glaucoma will lead to improved treatments for these highly vulnerable patients.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9944107
- **Project number:** 1R01EY031394-01
- **Recipient organization:** OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Yali Jia
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $552,591
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9944107

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9944107, Visible-light OCT angiography, velocimetry, and oximetry for characterizing retinal vascular alterations in glaucoma (1R01EY031394-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9944107. Licensed CC0.

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