March 27, 2025 (University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) & University of Bonn) – A groundbreaking study published in Translational Vision Science & Technology introduces a new nomenclature for analyzing retinal structures in high-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT), offering researchers a refined map of the retina that could enhance diagnostics and understanding of ocular disease.
Led by Lukas Goerdt, MD, a research fellow affiliated with the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Bonn, the study takes advantage of the Heidelberg Engineering HighRes-OCT research device, which improves axial resolution from the standard ~7 microns to approximately < 3 microns per pixel. This increase in detail allowed the team to identify and name 28 distinct retinal bands, some of which were previously invisible using currently available OCT technologies.
“We wanted to unveil what’s truly visible in these images,” said Goerdt. “To collaborate and compare results across groups, we need a shared language. This updated nomenclature gives us that.”
The team’s goal was to establish a standardized vocabulary for these high-resolution OCT images, building on known anatomy through histology and electron microscopy. The names align where possible with existing OCT nomenclature while allowing room for future refinement of bands not yet fully understood.
To test the utility of the new system, the team applied it to a dataset from UAB including healthy eyes and patients with early and intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD). They found that the visibility of specific bands varied between study participants, confirming the nomenclature’s usefulness in capturing biologically meaningful differences.
“Nomenclature is only useful if it helps track changes over time or between groups,” Goerdt said. “We showed that our system does both.”
A Tool for Researchers, Built for Openness
To support the community in applying this nomenclature, the team developed a custom ImageJ plugin, an open-source software tool for image analysis. The plugin walks users through grading band visibility across nine predefined retinal locations and outputs structured data files for further analysis.
“Our plugin is intuitive and well-documented,” said Goerdt. “We even published a walkthrough video and supplementary material to help researchers get started.”
Though the plugin isn’t yet optimized for clinical practice, it offers immediate value for researchers studying retinal structure, aging, and disease.
“Clinicians may not need this level of detail—yet” Goerdt noted. “But for research purposes, this tool provides clarity, consistency, and a common reference point.”
Award-Winning Innovation
In recognition of his and his team’s work on this project, Lukas Goerdt is awarded the Xtreme Research Award 2025 by Heidelberg Engineering, honoring innovative contributions to retinal imaging and the application of high-resolution OCT. The award highlights the potential impact of this research on the future of ophthalmic diagnostics and image-based discovery.
Collaborative Roots and Future Directions
This project drew on expertise from UAB’s Clinical Research Unit, including input from computer scientists, histopathologists, and imaging specialists. The team also worked closely with experts at Heidelberg Engineering to understand the technical capabilities and limitations of the used HighRes-OCT research device.
Looking forward, the next step is to automate the grading process, which currently takes about 45 minutes per eye. The team also plans to correlate structural data with visual function, including metrics like dark adaptation and microperimetry. An ongoing study with collaborators in Spain is investigating how these retinal bands evolve across the human lifespan.
“Eventually, we want to understand whether all this structural detail translates into functional outcomes,” Goerdt said.
He hopes other researchers will engage with the nomenclature and contribute to its evolution.
“Even if people don’t adopt it as-is, we’d love feedback”, he said. “We want this system to grow with the field and reflect what’s actually useful to the research community.”
