Automated microaneurysm detection

A digital image processing system has been developed to quantify and monitor the presence of microaneurysms in retinal fluorescein angiograms. The system is fully automated (except for the initial digitisation), and includes stages for preprocessing, registration of same-eye images obtained at different visits, fovea detection for placement of regions-of-interest, and detection of microaneurysms and microaneurysm turnover. The system achieves 82% sensitivity for detecting microaneurysms with a specificity of 84%. Preliminary investigations indicate a high microaneurysm turnover for most patients with diabetic retinopathy, which may have significant clinical implications.