Eye health

Survivors of retinoblastoma (Rb) often face challenges even following the remission of their cancer, from vision loss and deformities, to psychosocial issues.

To preserve vision and reduce the risk of cancer spreading, early detection is crucial. As such, children with Rb frequently undergo multiple examinations under anaesthesia (EUA), with high-risk cases sometimes requiring over 20 EUAs by age two.

At the Ulverscroft Eye Unit, Dr Zhanhan Tu from the University of Leicester has pioneered the use of handheld Optical Coherence Tomography (HH-OCT) to non-invasively examine the retinas of Rb patients. Her team's previous research demonstrated the value of this method for detecting new and recurrent tumours, and in turn, guiding more effective clinical decisions. In collaboration with a Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) advisory group formed from their earlier PPI study, the group has received valuable insights for proposal development and execution.

In this project, Dr Tu and her team plan to assess the feasibility of next-generation ultra-widefield paediatric OCT to capture detailed retinal images during EUA. Additionally, they will compare traditional indirect fundoscopy with HH-OCT to improve Rb characterisation. This research aims to enhance early detection and treatment monitoring, leading to improved patient care.

Their goal is to develop clinical guidelines for awake OCT examinations, without anaesthesia, reducing the need for EUA sessions and alleviating the burden on children, families and healthcare systems.