An international research partnership between institutions in Singapore and Germany is bringing a next-generation corneal nerve imaging platform into clinical research, potentially improving the detection and monitoring of ocular and systemic neurological diseases.
Announced on October 28, the collaboration brings together researchers from the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI), Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC), Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock University and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), with support from Heidelberg Engineering.
The platform enables cellular-resolution visualization of the corneal subbasal nerve plexus across an imaging area approximately 60 times larger than conventional in vivo confocal microscopy, offering researchers a more comprehensive assessment of corneal nerve architecture.
Developed over more than a decade by scientists and engineers in Germany, the technology combines a modified Rostock Cornea Module with automated eye guidance, intelligent image acquisition, and advanced image mosaicing.
While conventional confocal microscopy typically captures just 0.16 mm² of the cornea, the new system can image areas spanning 4 to 10 mm,² potentially enabling more representative assessments of corneal nerve health.
Expanding clinical applications
The cornea contains the highest density of sensory nerves in the human body, making it a potentially valuable window into neurological and immune-mediated diseases.
Researchers anticipate that the platform could support investigations into diabetic neuropathy, dry eye disease, neurotrophic keratopathy, peripheral neuropathies and neurodegenerative disorders, as well as inflammatory ocular surface conditions.
The technology was installed at SERI in July 2026, with the original German development team overseeing technology transfer and training. Following technical validation, the platform will be integrated into the institute's clinical imaging infrastructure.
Associate Professor Yu-Chi Liu, a clinician scientist at SNEC and clinical research lead for the program, will oversee its integration into ongoing and future clinical studies. "This collaboration provides a unique opportunity to evaluate advanced corneal nerve imaging in well-characterized patient cohorts," Liu said in a recent press release. "Integrating this innovative technology into SERI's translational research programs and corneal neuropathy work will strengthen our ability to investigate ocular and systemic diseases and support the development of new imaging biomarkers for precision medicine."
The partnership will also explore artificial intelligence-assisted image analysis, multimodal ophthalmic imaging, and quantitative biomarker development.
Ultimately, the researchers hope the technology will enable more reliable longitudinal disease monitoring and objective assessments of therapeutic response, potentially establishing corneal nerve imaging as a biomarker platform for both ocular and systemic diseases.
“This collaboration demonstrates the power of multidisciplinary collaborations to drive clinical innovation,” said Professor Leopold Schmetterer, Head of Ocular Imaging and Bioengineering & Devices Research Groups, and the Senior Scientific Director at SERI. “Its implementation at SERI marks an important step in its clinical adoption in the field of corneal imaging.”
Source: Singapore National Eye Centre.
