Use of XyCAM RI for Noninvasive Visualization and Analysis of Retinal Blood Flow Dynamics During Clinical Investigations

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Ocular blood flow plays a critical role in eye health by nourishing the retinal and ocular tissues with oxygen and nutrients and removal of ocular metabolic waste. Imaging of retinal and optic blood flow may provide insights for early and more specific diagnoses of ocular vascular disorder and facilitate eye-based biomarkers applicable to neurological health assessment and research.

Areas covered

The ability of the XyCAM RI (Vasoptic Medical Inc., MD, USA) to visualize and to analyze ocular blood flow dynamics XyCAM RI using laser speckle contrast imaging is reviewed and compared with concurrent clinical ophthalmic imaging technologies like optical coherence tomography – angiography (OCT-A), fundus imaging, fluorescein angiography (FA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), and laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG).

Expert opinion

XyCAM RI, with its unprecedented imaging capabilities to assess blood flow dynamics provides a powerful tool to ophthalmic researchers and doctors to obtain greater clinical insights into the physiological status of the posterior segment and treatment approaches for various diseases in a very patient-friendly, noninvasive manner, unlike dye-based angiographic techniques such as FA or ICG. XyCAM RI is well suited as a modality that could close the gap between current screening and comprehensive eye exams.

KEYWORDS:

• Ocular blood flow
• eye diseases
• neurological diseases
• retina
• optic nerve head

Article highlights

• The XyCAM RI (Vasoptic Medical Inc., MD, USA) is a unique ophthalmic imaging device with unprecedented capabilities for monitoring and assessment of ocular blood flow dynamics at a high spatial and temporal resolution.

• The device is suitable for identifying and developing potential advanced blood flow-based biomarkers for early and more specific diagnoses of multiple ocular vascular disorders and neurovascular pathologies.

• The XyCAM RI, with its robust, reliable, noninvasive imaging capabilities, is well suited as a modality that could close the gap between current screening and comprehensive eye exams.

Declaration of Interest

A Rege is the Founder and President of Vasoptic Medical, Inc., the developer, and manufacturer of the XyCAM RI system described in this article. D Cabrera-DeBuc and W Smiddy have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. D Cabrera-DeBuc has conducted clinical research with the XyCAM RI and has direct experience with its strengths and weaknesses.

Reviewer Disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.