Modeling rod and cone photoreceptor cell survival in vivo using optical coherence tomography

Abstract Many retinal diseases involve the loss of light-sensing photoreceptor cells (rods and cones) over time. The severity and distribution of photoreceptor loss varies widely across diseases and affected individuals, so characterizing the degree and pattern of photoreceptor loss can clarify path...

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Main Authors: S. Scott Whitmore, Adam P. DeLuca, Jeaneen L. Andorf, Justine L. Cheng, Mahsaw Mansoor, Christopher R. Fortenbach, D. Brice Critser, Jonathan F. Russell, Edwin M. Stone, Ian C. Han
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2023-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33694-y
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author S. Scott Whitmore
Adam P. DeLuca
Jeaneen L. Andorf
Justine L. Cheng
Mahsaw Mansoor
Christopher R. Fortenbach
D. Brice Critser
Jonathan F. Russell
Edwin M. Stone
Ian C. Han
author_facet S. Scott Whitmore
Adam P. DeLuca
Jeaneen L. Andorf
Justine L. Cheng
Mahsaw Mansoor
Christopher R. Fortenbach
D. Brice Critser
Jonathan F. Russell
Edwin M. Stone
Ian C. Han
author_sort S. Scott Whitmore
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Many retinal diseases involve the loss of light-sensing photoreceptor cells (rods and cones) over time. The severity and distribution of photoreceptor loss varies widely across diseases and affected individuals, so characterizing the degree and pattern of photoreceptor loss can clarify pathophysiology and prognosis. Currently, in vivo visualization of individual photoreceptors requires technology such as adaptive optics, which has numerous limitations and is not widely used. By contrast, optical coherence tomography (OCT) is nearly ubiquitous in daily clinical practice given its ease of image acquisition and detailed visualization of retinal structure. However, OCT cannot resolve individual photoreceptors, and no OCT-based method exists to distinguish between the loss of rods versus cones. Here, we present a computational model that quantitatively estimates rod versus cone photoreceptor loss from OCT. Using histologic data of human photoreceptor topography, we constructed an OCT-based reference model to simulate outer nuclear layer thinning caused by differential loss of rods and cones. The model was able to estimate rod and cone loss using in vivo OCT data from patients with Stargardt disease and healthy controls. Our model provides a powerful new tool to quantify photoreceptor loss using OCT data alone, with potentially broad applications for research and clinical care.
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spelling doaj.art-ed7c31bc803c43939a09822c391eb2212023-04-30T11:17:30ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-04-0113111010.1038/s41598-023-33694-yModeling rod and cone photoreceptor cell survival in vivo using optical coherence tomographyS. Scott Whitmore0Adam P. DeLuca1Jeaneen L. Andorf2Justine L. Cheng3Mahsaw Mansoor4Christopher R. Fortenbach5D. Brice Critser6Jonathan F. Russell7Edwin M. Stone8Ian C. Han9The University of Iowa Institute for Vision Research & Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, The University of IowaThe University of Iowa Institute for Vision Research & Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, The University of IowaThe University of Iowa Institute for Vision Research & Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, The University of IowaThe University of Iowa Institute for Vision Research & Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, The University of IowaThe University of Iowa Institute for Vision Research & Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, The University of IowaThe University of Iowa Institute for Vision Research & Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, The University of IowaThe University of Iowa Institute for Vision Research & Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, The University of IowaThe University of Iowa Institute for Vision Research & Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, The University of IowaThe University of Iowa Institute for Vision Research & Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, The University of IowaThe University of Iowa Institute for Vision Research & Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Carver College of Medicine, The University of IowaAbstract Many retinal diseases involve the loss of light-sensing photoreceptor cells (rods and cones) over time. The severity and distribution of photoreceptor loss varies widely across diseases and affected individuals, so characterizing the degree and pattern of photoreceptor loss can clarify pathophysiology and prognosis. Currently, in vivo visualization of individual photoreceptors requires technology such as adaptive optics, which has numerous limitations and is not widely used. By contrast, optical coherence tomography (OCT) is nearly ubiquitous in daily clinical practice given its ease of image acquisition and detailed visualization of retinal structure. However, OCT cannot resolve individual photoreceptors, and no OCT-based method exists to distinguish between the loss of rods versus cones. Here, we present a computational model that quantitatively estimates rod versus cone photoreceptor loss from OCT. Using histologic data of human photoreceptor topography, we constructed an OCT-based reference model to simulate outer nuclear layer thinning caused by differential loss of rods and cones. The model was able to estimate rod and cone loss using in vivo OCT data from patients with Stargardt disease and healthy controls. Our model provides a powerful new tool to quantify photoreceptor loss using OCT data alone, with potentially broad applications for research and clinical care.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33694-y
spellingShingle S. Scott Whitmore
Adam P. DeLuca
Jeaneen L. Andorf
Justine L. Cheng
Mahsaw Mansoor
Christopher R. Fortenbach
D. Brice Critser
Jonathan F. Russell
Edwin M. Stone
Ian C. Han
Modeling rod and cone photoreceptor cell survival in vivo using optical coherence tomography
Scientific Reports
title Modeling rod and cone photoreceptor cell survival in vivo using optical coherence tomography
title_full Modeling rod and cone photoreceptor cell survival in vivo using optical coherence tomography
title_fullStr Modeling rod and cone photoreceptor cell survival in vivo using optical coherence tomography
title_full_unstemmed Modeling rod and cone photoreceptor cell survival in vivo using optical coherence tomography
title_short Modeling rod and cone photoreceptor cell survival in vivo using optical coherence tomography
title_sort modeling rod and cone photoreceptor cell survival in vivo using optical coherence tomography
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33694-y
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