Combined OCT+ERG system for imaging neurovascular coupling in the healthy and diseased rodent retina

Neurodegenerative retinal diseases such as Retinitis Pigmentosa, Diabetic retinopathy, AMD and Glaucoma cause progressive loss of retinal neuronal function and eventually apoptosis of retinal neurons. We have developed a combined OCT+ERG system capable of simultaneous imaging of retinal morphology, probing of retinal function (ORG – optoretinography and ERG – electroretinography) and visually evoked transient changes of the retinal blood flow. This technology allows for non-invasive probing of retinal neurovascular coupling with high spatial and temporal resolution. The performance of the novel OCT+ERG system was tested in-vivo in healthy and diseased rat retinas.