Skip to Content
Office: 11190B PFPIowa City, IA 52242 Phone: +1 319 356 3938 Email: young-kwon@uiowa.edu
BS, Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass, 1984MD, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn, 1991PhD, Neuroscience, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass, 1991Internship, Internal Medicine, Mt Auburn Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 1992Fellowship, Glaucoma, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn, 1996
Primary: Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences
glaucoma, optic disc image analysis, patient's guide to glaucama, pixel classification
Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the United States, but can be managed if diagnosed early and treated appropriately. Adequate diagnosis and treatment depends on measurement of changes in the optic nerve cupping. We have developed a novel computer software method to automatically measure the optic nerve changes from digital stereo optic nerve photographs. This image processing alogorithm is based on pixel feature classification algorithm, which has previously been developed for the purpose of evaluating diabetic retinopathy in digital fundus photographs. We have utilized novel, biologically plausible pixel feature classification algorithm to automatically segment the optic disc into cup and rim, and compared its performance to the reference standard, i.e., computer-assisted planimetry by human glaucoma experts. The early results are promising. We hope to eventually develop and refine the algorithm to objectively diagnose and detect progression of glaucomatous optic nerve cupping from serial digital stereo fundus photographs. Dr. Kwon is also interested in the education of public regarding glaucoma through free on- line publications. See www.medrounds.org/glaucoma-guide.