The human eye contains an visual system that converts changes in light into meaningful images, enabling orientation, communication, and interaction with our environment. When these delicate tissues are affected by aging, metabolic disorders, or neurological disease, vision can deteriorate gradually yet profoundly. Conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and optic nerve damage can limit independence and quality of life. Studying these disorders and improving their early detection and monitoring form the core mission of the Ophthalmic Imaging Group, led by PD Dr. Peter Maloca.

Remarkably, the eye can be imaged extraordinarily well using a variety of acquisition methods, providing unique access to neural and vascular structures in vivo. One focus of the Ophthalmic Imaging Group is the advancement of optical coherence tomography (OCT) - a non-invasive, laser-based imaging technology that reveals microscopic retinal structures and disease-related changes. Further imaging modalities such as scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, color fundus photography, or fundus autofluorescence allow for a combined analysis of multimodal data providing clinicians with complentery information. Building on a strong partnership with the Center for medical Image Analysis and Navigation, the Eye Clinic of the University Hospital Basel and researchers from Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, the Ophthalmic Imaging Group group develops new acquisition methods, analysis techniques, and visualisation tools to enhance clinical insight. 

The Ophthalmic Imaging Group operates in an interdisciplinary setting, where biomedical engineers and ophthalmologists work together to develop and validate new technologies. Engineering experts contribute advanced methods in artificial intelligence, data processing, and device development, while clinicians provide essential insights into disease mechanisms, diagnostic needs, and patient care. This close collaboration enables the work towards tools that address unmet clinical needs.