The group “Quantitative in vivo corneal and ocular microscopy” led by Kristina Irsch focuses on solving problems inherent to ophthalmic imaging in those suffering from actual pathology.

Axis 1 - Overcoming human-factor limitations inherent to patient imaging: 

Objective 1 - Characterization of anterior-segment transparency with tailored instrumentation; 

Objective 2 - Compensation for anterior-segment transparency imperfections and loss. Emerging efforts also focus on turning some inherent ocular characteristics, such as eye movements or ocular scattering, to potential advantage: 

Axis 2 - Can human-factor limitations be turned to improve ocular imaging? 

Objective 3 - Using light scattering for high-resolution ocular imaging; 

Objective 4 - Using ocular motion as a shifting or scanning mechanism.  To achieve these objectives, the group develops innovative tools using original physics-based concepts, with an overall goal to realize the potential of the cornea and the eye to serve as a quantitative in vivo microscope into ocular as well as systemic diseases.  

An inter-disciplinary approach is employed involving a synergy between physicists/engineers and ophthalmologists, both within the emerging team and at the national and international level.