OCTAHEDRON : Optical Coherence Tomography Automated Heuristics for Early Diagnosis via Retina in Ophthalmology and Neurology

Neurodegenerative disorders are often associated with changes in retinal structure. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a new imaging technique which reveals the retina in microscopic 3D detail. The complex 3D structure of OCT scans is challenging for humans to interpret, but lends itself to machine learning.

The OCTAHEDRON project aims to use the latest deep learning techniques to enable early detection of neurodegenerative disease via OCT scans.

Following previous approaches, we embed domain knowledge by first analysing OCT scans to extract distinct layers of tissue (segmentation) and intensity at each layer boundary (pseudo-fundus images).

This information is passed to a classification network which learns to associate particular features with particular neurological and ophthalmological diagnoses.

This requires large amounts of data in the form of OCT scans along with patient clinical information, which we will mine from NHS data stores. We obtain human-labelled segmentation via an innovative web application which also helps train junior ophthalmologists.

We will use unsupervised learning techniques (auto-encoders and semi-supervised networks) to exploit still larger amounts of unannotated OCT scans. Throughout, we will engage patients and other stakeholders to learn how best to use data and exploit this technology.

Benefiting from our pilot work, we aim to have an algorithm capable of reporting the probability of at least Parkinson s disease, and possibly other conditions, from a 3D OCT scan at the end of this one-year project. We will then roll this out to NHS clinics for research use and evaluation.

Ultimately, our aim is to enable early diagnosis and neuroprotective therapy, which is essential for slowing disease progression. The system will be trialled in high-risk groups such as patients with genetic markers for Parkinson s.

Since OCT imaging is quick, inexpensive and increasingly available in high-street opticians, our long-term goal is screening for neurodegenerative disease via eye tests.