The optics of the eye can be thought of as an imperfect microscope objective through which the retina can be observed. Dr. Alfredo Dubra's lab uses adaptive optics, a technology originally developed to observe distant stars and galaxies, to improve this microscope objective so that individual retinal and blood cells can be visualized.
The Dubra lab is part of the Byers Eye Institute and the Ophthalmology Department at Stanford University. Their mission is to help advance the early detection and improve the management of ocular, vascular, neurological and systemic diseases through novel optical ophthalmic imaging technologies.
To achieve this, they develop novel instrumentation through a multidisciplinary approach that integrates optics, computer science, vision science, electrical engineering and other engineering disciplines.