Retinal photoreceptor cell imaging technology has been changing physicians’ and researchers’ understanding of retinal structure and function, and the development of numerous retinal diseases.

Until now, the use of this technology has been limited to cooperative adult patients due to the size, weight and inconvenience of the equipment.

A team of physicians and researchers at Duke University, however, recently published a letter in Nature Photonics, describing the development of a light handheld probe that can perform both scanning laser ophthalmoscopy and optical coherence tomography of the parafoveal photoreceptor structure in infants and children without the need for adaptive optics.

Because the device enables imaging of retinal photoreceptor cells in infants and young children who could not otherwise sit still long enough to utilize existing conventional techniques, the device promises to improve the understanding of retinal development, and the onset of retinal disease in pediatric patients.

Click here ^[1] (a North Carolina Public Radio article written in laymens’ terms) and here ^[2] (a copy of the letter appearing in Nature Photonics using more scientific terminology) to learn more.