Software for 3-D visualization/analysis of optic-disc images

Discusses a software tool called the stereo optic disc analyzer (SODA) (patent pending ID:P09819, 1997), which has been developed for quantitative image processing of stereo optic-disc photographs to aid in the diagnosis and assessment of retinal disease. It is able to perform color matching and alignment of two images so that they are superimposed and viewed in 3-D sequential display by use of a pair of 3-D goggles. These 3-D images of the same patient are taken at different times, often over periods of several years. Measurements of optic-disc cupping, vertical and horizontal cup/disc ratio, cup and disc area, diameter, shape, and neuroretinal rim width can be determined using a predefined template placed over the image (one for the right eye and one for the left eye). Sequential display of stereo images (stereo flicker chronoscopy) and digital stereophotogrammetry provide sensitive methods for monitoring glaucomatous changes to the optic disc.