Summary: The research of Dr. Wang's group is focused on the development of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for studying the anterior segment of the eye.

Jianhua (Jay) Wang, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

View published research articles by this doctor in the
National Library of Medicine.

Research Interest:My research interest has been in clinical application and research using optical coherence tompography (OCT) and other the state of art techniques. We are able to study the anterior segments of the eye in the following areas: Biomechanical responses of the cornea to refractive surgery and contact lens wear; Tear dynamics from secretion to drainage in normal and abnormal subjects including contact lens wearers; Tear dynamics modeling for evaluation of artificial tears; Corneal transparency by mean of light backscatter quantification; Image processing to restore geometrical relation of OCT images. Using our newly built ultra-high (3 microns) resolution OCT for imaging anterior segment of the eye, the details of the cornea and micro-thin tear films around both contact lens surfaces was directly visualized.

Current Research Program:
One of the most important trends in ophthalmology today is the integration of diagnostic testing into everyday practice. One of the ways is through the use of advanced ocular imaging. A state-of-the-art ultra-high resolution optical coherence tomography has been developed for imaging the anterior segment of the eye. The development of this device opens a new era in studying the anterior segment of the eye, including tear system, corneal pathology and ocular responses to contact lenses and refractive surgery.

The device is a slit-lamp based imaging system, which holds the key to diagnosing dry eyes and other disorders in the anterior segment. This new generation of OCT imaging allows us to see far more details, helping to guide the clinical treatment and eventually deliver even more effective patient care. The device will also lead scientific research to the next level and many unanswered health questions can be addressed using the top machine.

Fig. 1. Central cornea with a contact lens in situ was imaged with the OCT (Fig. 1). Pre- and post- lens tear films are clearly visualized. The epithelium including the basal cell layer and Bowman's membrane are also visualized.

OCT images obtained with the Ultra-high resolution OCT
Eyes with a contact lens (PureVision, Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY) was fitted on one eye. OCT imaging was conducted immediately after instillation of one drop of artificial tears (Refresh Liquigel, Allergan). Two dimensional images of the central cornea and contact lens edge were obtained.

From the central cornea with the contact lens, pre- and post- tear films were clearly visualized. The epithelium (including the basal cell layer) and Bowman's layers were also visualized. The edge configurations of the lens and tear meniscus around the lens edge were shown. Pre- and post-lens tear films at the lens edge area were seen.

Fig. 2. On the edge of a contact lens, tear film around and underneath the lens edge was clearly shown.