Glaucoma Detection Using Optical Coherence Tomography Images: A Systematic Review of Clinical and Automated Studies

Abstract

Glaucoma is a progressive and degenerative optic neuropathy that causes severe visual impairment or even blindness if left untreated. Glaucoma is majorly caused due to stress which increases intraocular pressure that leads towards optic nerve degeneration. The degenerative optic nerve then causes irreversible loss of peripheral vision which may lead to complete blindness. Although the progression of glaucoma can harshly affect the vision, it can be prevented  if diagnosed in the early stages. However, optical coherence tomography (OCT) imagery is widely used by ophthalmologist for early glaucoma  diagnosis and progression tracking. Owing to this objective screening capacity of the OCT imagery, many researchers have used it as an examination procedure to verify their clinical studies or to train their autonomous systems for mass-screening glaucomatous pathologies. In this paper, we present a  systematic review of the recent studies that have proposed various solutions to mitigate glaucomatous progression using OCT imagery. Initially, we have presented a review of clinical studies that looked at glaucomatous diseases in OCT images.Furthermore, this paper presents a detailed survey  of the state-of-the-art techniques for glaucoma detection and grading. In future directions, ganglion cell layer as well as macular analysis and its automation will improve the diagnostic power of OCT for the early glaucoma detection and especially monitoring its progression.

KEYWORDS:

• Ganglion cell layer (GCL)
• Glaucoma
• Macula
• Optic never head (ONH)
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT)
• Retinal never fiber layer (RNFL)
• Visual field defects

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This work was supported by National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan and Diagnostic Center AL Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi. Pakistan. The authors presented the study have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hina Raja

Hina Raja was born in Islamabad, Pakistan in 1989. She is currently the PhD scholar with the Computer Engineering Department, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering National University of Sciences and Technology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. She did BS in computer engineering and MS in computer engineering in year 2009 and 2013, respectively. Her main areas of research are image processing and machine learning.

Muhammad Usman Akram

Muhammad Usman Akram was born in Islamabad, Pakistan, in 1985. He received the BS degree (Hons) in computer system engineering and the master's and PhD degrees in computer engineering from Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, in 2008, 2010, and 2012, respectively. He is currently an associate professor with Electrical and Mechanical Engineering National University of Sciences and Technology. His main areas of research are biomedical imaging and image processing. Email: [email protected]

Taimur Hassan

Taimur Hassan was born in Islamabad, Pakistan, in 1990. He received the BS degree (Hons) in computer system engineering and the master's and PhD degrees in computer engineering from Bahria University, UET Taxila and NUST, respectively. He is currently post doc research fellow at Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi UAE. His main areas of research are biomedical imaging and image processing. Email: [email protected]

Aneeqa Ramzan

Aneeqa Ramazan was born in Islamabad, Pakistan, in 1994. She received the BS degree (Hons) in electronic engineering and the master's degree in computer engineering from Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, in 2015 and 2018, respectively. Her main areas of research are biomedical imaging, image processing and electronics engineering. Email: [email protected]

Amtual Aziz

Amtul Aziz is MBBS doctor and glaucoma expert. She is currently working in head of Department of Diagnostic Center at Al Shifa Eye Trust Hospital Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Email: [email protected]

Hira Raja

Hira Raja was born in Islamabad, Pakistan in 1993. She is a doctor and working in Maragalla Institute of Health Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. She is working as house officer. Email: [email protected]