Abstract
Optical imaging of the eye has considerable advantages for molecular imaging compared to non-optical techniques of molecular imaging for autofluorescence[1-4], Green Fluorescence Protein[5] and Annexin V apoptosis [6-8]confocal imaging in the living eye. We can visualise physiologically interesting molecular species using autofluorescence of the age pigment, lipofuscin, the expression of proteins labelled with GFP and individual nerve cells undergoing the process of apoptosis or cell suicide in the living eye. These non-invasive imaging investigations have been undertaken in the living eyes of species such as the rat and mouse. Some have been extensively undertaken in the living eye of normal humans and patients with ocular pathologies. This opens up new opportunities for understanding the relationship between ageing and visual function and the pathological changes underlying visual loss. Because imaging can be conducted comfortably, easily, rapidly and repeatedly we can investigate changes in such interesting molecular species as derivatives of vitamin A and changes in the retina and retinal pigment epithelial cells which underlie visual loss due to photoreceptor dysfunction. The new opportunities this presents using recent advances in optical instrumentation combined with developments in new forms of molecular labelling as well as the investigation of naturally occurring endogenous fluorophores will be discussed.
© 2009 Optical Society of America
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