Meibomian gland cyst detection and classification using hyperspectral imaging

Abstract

The primary role of the oily secretion (meibum) is to ensure tear film stability and retard evaporation. In addition to these is providing ocular surface lubrication, which is necessary for smooth eyelid movements. When a gland is blocked, it is described as a Meibomian gland cyst (MGC), which can be a meibomian cyst, usually referred to as chalazion (eye bump), or in the case of inflammation, it is considered to be a hordeolum (sty or stye). Topical ophthalmic ointments and eyelid heat massages can treat early diagnosed MGC; otherwise, surgical operation is required. The current techniques of diagnosing MGC are usually uncomfortable or invasive, such as examining the tarsal plate after everting the eyelid or by biopsy procedures. The purpose of this work is to propose a non-invasive MGC evaluation and classification technique using hyperspectral imaging and image processing. The proposed technique was carried out on a single patient (i.e., case study) for a period of 4 months to monitor the MGC evolution until postsurgery-recovery and was compared with a normal eyelid patient. The collected hypercube data were processed using Multivariate Curve Resolution (MCR) and image analysis to classify the MGC severity levels. The proposed work built the threshold of the complete system, where early diagnosis of an MGC is possible before it becomes visible to the eye, Wessam Shehieb ABOUT THE AUTHOR Wessam Shehieb is an M.Sc. student in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the Universiti Sains Malaysia and a full-time Teaching Assistant in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Ajman university, UAE. His research interests are medical imaging, intelligent systems, and computational intelligence. Maher Assaad received his Ph.D. degree in EE from the University of Glasgow (U.K.). His current research interests include light sensors and circuits for surface levelness measurement and food quality assessment, wireline data communication circuits for SoC interconnects and optical communication systems. Ayman Tawfik is the head of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Ajman University, UAE. His research interests are digital image processing, VLSI signal processing, digital communication, internet-ofthings and education technology. Nor Ashidi Mat Isa is a Professor and Deputy Dean at the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia. His research interests are image processing, intelligent systems, medical imaging and computational intelligence.