ORG Detects Retinal Dysfunction Before Structural Changes

At ASRS 2026, Kareem Moussa, MD, presented early data suggesting optoretinography may identify photoreceptor dysfunction in diabetic eyes before conventional imaging reveals abnormalities.

By
Jim Gallagher, senior managing editor
July 15, 2026
3 min

Retinal Physician

Objective:

To evaluate the potential of optoretinography (ORG) in identifying photoreceptor dysfunction in diabetic eyes prior to structural abnormalities being visible through conventional imaging.

Approach:

Technology Description: ORG is a functional imaging technique that measures photoreceptor responses to light using a standard OCT light source.
Metrics Used: ORG quantifies photoreceptor response using two velocity-based metrics: Vmin (initial contraction) and V20-40 (average elongation rate).
Study Population: The study included healthy eyes and eyes with retinal disease, primarily diabetic retinopathy and uveitis.
Findings in Diabetic Patients: ORG detected altered photoreceptor function in diabetic patients with no visible diabetic retinopathy on structural examination.

Key Findings:

ORG showed a consistent reduction in photoreceptor elongation in diseased eyes compared to healthy controls.
In normal eyes, elongation velocity decreased with distance from the fovea; diseased eyes exhibited attenuation across measured locations.
Functional abnormalities may precede visible structural changes in diabetic patients.