02.10.2024 A special camera, laser, and computer will provide an even more precise view of what is happening inside our eyes, according to researchers from the ICTER research centre. The new examination is painless and takes only 8.6 milliseconds, which is equivalent to the time it takes for a bee to flap its wings twice. This technology aims to enhance the detection of eye diseases at their early stages.
The technology, known as STOC-T, developed by scientists, has the potential to replace today’s OCT examination, commonly referred to as eye tomography. The team behind this new technology is led by Professor Maciej Wojtkowski, the head of ICTER. Notably, a quarter of a century ago, he created the first prototype of the OCT device, which is now used in ophthalmology clinics worldwide.
Capturing the eye in stillness
“In eye examinations, time is crucial. The eye constantly makes small, unconscious movements. Even though the previous technology only required a few seconds for an examination, each of these movements introduced noise, reducing the clarity of the results,” explains Professor Maciej Wojtkowski.
The development of digital technologies provided a solution. Researchers utilized a camera capable of capturing up to 60,000 frames per second, which is over a thousand times faster than standard smartphone cameras. As a result, the examination time was reduced to less than 0.01 seconds.
“During this imperceptible fraction of a second, our system illuminates the eye with multiple laser light waves. The camera captures hundreds of frames showing how the light propagates within the cells of the eye. These frames are then superimposed and analyzed by our software, which generates a precise image of the eye’s layers,” says Professor Maciej Wojtkowski.
This approach provides ophthalmologists with a detailed image of the retina, enabling them to detect early signs of various eye diseases, including glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. The increased precision of diagnosis is particularly important in Poland, where one ophthalmologist serves approximately 10,000 patients. According to the latest report from the National Health Fund, more than half a million Poles are currently on waiting lists for ophthalmology appointments. Early diagnosis allows for quicker treatment, which, in many cases, can prevent vision loss.
International support
The ICTER research centre is part of the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Its scientists combine knowledge from physics, biology, chemistry, engineering, and medicine. This interdisciplinary approach allows them to create new methods for examining and treating vision.
The developed technology is one of many steps planned by researchers. Their primary goal is to find a technological solution that will facilitate faster access to specialized ophthalmic care. Their efforts have been made possible by a prestigious grant awarded under the “Teaming for Excellence” program in Horizon Europe. They have secured €30 million in funding, half of which comes from the European Commission, with the remaining amount provided by the Foundation for Polish Science and the Polish Ministry of Education and Science.
With this funding, ICTER will establish a Centre of Scientific Excellence in Warsaw — a place where science meets practice, and research is transformed into concrete medical solutions. Partners in this project include the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London and the Institut de la Vision at Sorbonne Université.
