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Macular Function
Laboratory

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The Macular Function Laboratory, led by Yi-Zhong Wang, PhD, creates and utilizes advanced imaging analysis and visual function evaluation tools to detect vision loss in patients with AMD, diabetic retinopathy, IRDs and pediatric eye conditions.

The goal is to use artificial intelligence, deep machine learning models, mobile computing technology and other approaches to evaluate and determine the most effective treatments for these eye diseases, so that eye doctors can better care for patients and prevent further vision loss.

Advancements

Dr. Yi-Zhong Wang invented an FDA-approved home vision app, myVisionTrak™. Patients can download the app on their phone or computer. The app alerts ophthalmologists when a patient’s test results reveal that vision loss is greater than expected, which can spur an appointment. The app allows for remote monitoring between appointments and faster discovery of disease progression.

In recent years, Dr. Wang’s research focused on developing deep machine learning models with image data obtained from patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) in an effort to establish an automatic tool to identify biomarkers for RP. The model he developed attempts to identify and quantify biomarkers within retinal layers which can indicate retinal disease progression more effectively and efficiently. If there is a trial studying a potential treatment to RP, the model could potentially be used to assess the treatment outcomes. At 2025 ARVO, three posters from two deep machine learning/AI projects were presented. Dr. Wang presented the preliminary findings of a project in collaboration with Dr. David Birch, Dr. Eileen Birch and Dr. Mark Pennesi as well as with Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) on developing a cloud-based privacy-preserving multicenter approach to improve his deep learning model for the measurements of outer retinal layer metrics as biomarkers for RP.

First-time ARVO attendees and Retina Foundation research associates Brooke Koritala and Eric Vasquez presented two posters covering a collaboration between the Retina Foundation labs of Karl Csaky, MD, PhD, Dr. Eileen Birch and Dr. Yi-Zhong Wang, along with UT Southwestern. It applies Dr. Wang’s deep learning model to facilitate a study to examine normative photoreceptor outer segment volume across the human lifespan. This project also compared the deep learning model and a commercial Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) device for the assessment of retinal layer metrics.

The tools Dr. Wang and his team have been developing through deep machine learning/AI approaches can ultimately be utilized by doctors and scientists around the world in their own research, diagnosis and the assessment of treatment efforts for RP.

Experts

Yi-Zhong Wang, PhD


Director

Eric Vasquez

Clinical Research Coordinator

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