The PAR IS 2000: a new system for retinal digital image analysis.

We describe the PAR IS 2000, a new system of digital image analysis of the optic disc. The system uses a simultaneous stereoscopic camera and a video camera to acquire images directly from the optic disc and from optic disc photographs, respectively. The image data are stored on an optical laser disk capable of handling large amounts of data (4000 monochrome images/disk). These images can be analyzed using a modified digital interactive mapping program to generate stereometric parameters, contour maps, section profiles, pallor maps, depth maps, and three-dimensional topographic plots of the retina. A skeletonizing program permits determination and measurement of shifts in the position of retinal vessels. The system's wide range of capabilities may be helpful in improving patient care and ophthalmic research.