Meet the jury: ‘The future of imaging in Ophthalmology: FUN OCT or AI?’, prof. Leopold Schmetterer

You are kindly invited to the Meet the jury lecture ‘The future of imaging in Ophthalmology: FUN OCT or AI?’ by  prof. Leopold Schmetterer.

Date and time: 28 June 2024, 12h30-13h30

Location: Vergaderlokaal Thomas Mann, UZ Leuven, Oranje Straat, Poort 2, Verdiep 3 (see map)

Abstract
With the introduction of optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging in ophthalmology has become a highly dynamic field. In the recent years the technique was extended towards functional imaging (Fun OCT). OCT-angiography is the first approach that was commercialized. Other techniques such as Doppler OCT, polarisation-sensitive OCT or optoretinography are still at an experimental stage. These techniques provide novel opportunities in term of tissue contrast and diagnosis. As in other fields artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized image analysis. Using large datasets unprecedented sensitivity and specificity can be achieved for diagnosing ocular and systemic disease based on fundus photography and/or OCT. Moreover, there is novel ways of detecting disease progression based on ocular imaging. The present talk will summarize these developments and discuss pros and cons of Fun OCT versus AI.

About the speaker
Professor Leopold Schmetterer has graduated from the Technical University of Vienna. In 1989 he finished his PhD. He is Scientific Director and Head of Ocular Imaging at Singapore Eye Research Institute, Professor of Ophthalmology at National University of Singapore, and Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the Nanyang Technological University. Since 03/2020 he holds a named Professorship (SNEC/SERI Professorship in Ophthalmic Engineering & Technology) at Nanyang Technological University. He also holds guest professorships and Institute of Ophthalmology in Basel and Fondation Rothschild in Paris. Until 08/2016 he was chairing the Ophthalmic Pharmacology at the Department of Clinical Pharmacology at the Medical University of Vienna. In addition, he had an affiliation with the Center of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering. Dr. Schmetterer held a post doc position at the Institute de Recherche en Ophthalmologie in Sion and was a guest Professor at École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne. His research interests include a wide array of sub-specialities in ophthalmology including imaging, glaucoma, medical retina and dry eye syndrome. He is involved in many international societies including European Association for Vision and Eye Research (EVER: president 2012 and president of the EVER foundation 2014-2016), Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO: program committee member 2009-2011 and member of the board of trustees since 2018, Vice-president 2025), The International Symposium on Ocular Pharmacology & Therapeutics (ISOPT: program committee member), and World Ophthalmology Congress (WOC: program committee member). He has a strong interest in translational biomedical research and was involved in the commercialization of several drugs and devices.

Contact info: Jan Van Eijgen: (jan.1.vaneijgen<at>uzleuven<dot>be)