Glaucoma Research
As an ophthalmologist and glaucoma specialist, I am deeply committed to advancing the understanding, detection, and management of glaucoma — a condition that threatens vision globally. My research brings together clinical care, data science, and surgical innovation with one goal: to empower patients and deliver even better outcomes.
Innovation in Visual Field Data Extraction
Central to my research is the development of the open-source tool hvf_extraction_script (available on GitHub) — a Python-based framework that extracts and standardizes data from Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer (HVF) reports. This script processes HVF single-field analysis images using image-processing (OpenCV), optical character recognition (TesserOCR) and structured data formats. GitHub
By standardizing HVF data extraction in this way, my work allows for aggregation of large visual-field datasets, longitudinal monitoring of glaucoma progression, and the development of predictive analytics — all of which serve to improve early detection and customize patient care.
Translating Data into Clinical Insights
With the technical backbone of hvf_extraction_script in place, my research focuses on applying that data to real-world glaucoma questions. Examples of research directions include:
- Early detection of glaucomatous progression: Using sequence data of visual fields, I examine patterns of change in sensitivity and deviation plots to differentiate stable from progressing glaucoma earlier than standard metrics allow.
- Evaluation of treatment impact: For patients undergoing laser, MIGS (minimally invasive glaucoma surgery) or traditional filtering/shunt procedures, the extracted visual-field data provide a quantitative basis to assess effectiveness over time and compare outcomes across surgical approaches.
- Visualization and patient-communication tools: Using the structured arrays, I am developing tools to present visual-field results in patient-friendly ways — helping patients understand their disease, track progress, and feel empowered in their care decisions.
Clinical Relevance & Practice Integration
While the research is technical, the patient benefit is meaningful. By leveraging advanced data extraction and analytics:
- We aim to catch glaucomatous damage earlier, potentially before meaningful vision loss occurs.
- We hope to translate data into clear discussion with patients: You’re not just getting “another visual field” — you’re getting insight into how your eye is changing and how we’re acting in response.
- We aim to improve our understanding of glaucoma and constantly re-examine and improve our delivery of care.
Invitation to Collaborate & Explore
I welcome fellow clinicians, researchers and industry partners to explore the hvf_extraction_script (available on GitHub) and collaborate on glaucoma-related data science. My research vision is open-source, translational and patient-centered. If you’re interested in joint research, data sharing, or building new tools for glaucoma monitoring and intervention, please feel free to reach out.