An updated review of methods for human retinal oximetry measurements and current applications

The concept of retinal oximetry is based on physical properties that have been recognized since the 18th century. Attempts to non-invasively quantify the oxygen saturation of blood within the retinal vasculature date back to the 1950's. There are different techniques in existence for the measurement of retinal oxygenation, the leading ones are: photographic, digital, spectroscopy and the pulse methods. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. Current data from studies on retinal oximetry is presented, for both the healthy retina and in diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. It is clear that a thorough understanding of retinal oxygen tension is vital to our understanding of normal retinal physiology and the pathophysiology of degenerative eye diseases.