UPMC Vision Institute Faculty Publish Updates in Choroidal Imaging Biomarkers

Jay Chhablani, MD, professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and director of clinical research at the UPMC Vision Institute, and his colleagues recently published an update on choroidal imaging biomarkers in the Survey of Ophthalmology, outlining the latest findings from more than 14 years of their research.

The choroid is a layer of blood vessels and tissue between the sclera, or white of the eye, and the retina, the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye. In addition to supplying the retina, macula, and optic nerve with blood, the choroid also regulates retinal temperature, helps control eye pressure, and absorbs light, limiting potentially damaging reflections within the eye.

“Many types of conditions can affect the choroid,” explains Dr. Chhablani, who leads the Choroidal Analysis and Research Lab at Pitt. “Our research looks at non-invasive imaging techniques and their ability to assess choroidal involvement across multiple disease types, from ophthalmic conditions like glaucoma and wet macular degeneration to systemic conditions like diabetes.”

Choroidal tissue is not usually accessible for pathology assessments, so imaging studies enable clinicians and researchers to observe various biomarkers that indicate disease presence or progression. This can include changes in choroidal blood vessels and blood flow, as well as choroidal thickness and contour.

“Newer imaging approaches, along with advancements in choroidal blood flow measurements and high-resolution 3-D reconstruction of choroidal architecture, are allowing us to more specifically identify and classify disorders within the choroid,” Dr. Chhablani notes. “If we can be more specific about how changes within the choroid impact visual function, we can develop more specific strategies for prevention and treatment.”

Dr. Chhablani and his colleagues are utilizing advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence to develop an algorithm that produces images of blood vessels that may serve as predictive models for future disease progression. Learn more about their work.