The eye as a window to the brain

Anja Hauser and Raluca Niesner from the DRFZ, together with colleagues from Charité  –  Universitätsmedizin Berlin, have published a new study on retinal imaging in the journal Neurology, Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation.

The researchers developed a special microscope that combines optical coherence tomography (OCT) and two-photon microscopy. This enabled them to record non-invasive time-lapse videos of the retina in a multiple sclerosis model over several weeks. While OCT is already used in clinical diagnostics, two-photon microscopy allows additional functional, dynamic analysis.

Using this new technique, they discovered that certain (CX3CR1+) immune cells migrate to the optic nerve head at an early stage – an indication of the disease even before symptoms appear. This research demonstrates the importance of combined structural and functional imaging for early detection in neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. This in turn enables timely intervention in the course of the disease.