By Vanessa Parks
Internal Communications and Engagement Specialist
Professor Kostadinka Bizheva has recently been named a for her exceptional contributions to optical imaging in ophthalmology.
brings researchers together to share their knowledge and experience in optics, and their fellowships acknowledge the lifetime achievements of its members. As a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at ݮƵ, cross-appointed to the School of Optometry and Vision Science, Bizheva has more than 20 years of experience conducting research and teaching in the field of biomedical optics.
Bizheva’s work is focused on designing optical imaging technology, called optical coherence tomography (OCT), for biomedical applications. “Our technology uses laser light to image the cornea and retina,” says Bizheva. “Current technologies allow us to image these parts of the eye but not at a cellular level. My research group has developed ultrahigh resolution, rapid scanning OCT technology that can generate 3D images of the cellular structure of the eye.”
Neurodegenerative retinal diseases, such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, and corneal diseases, such as Keratoconus and Fuch’s dystrophy, affect a large portion of the aging population and can lead to blindness. Early diagnosis is crucial to slowing the progression of these diseases. “OCT technology allows ophthalmologists to diagnose potentially blinding diseases much earlier while also monitoring the effectiveness of therapy,” says Bizheva.
Bizheva can trace her love of optics back to early childhood. “My grandfather was a projectionist in a movie theatre, and I remember being five years old, watching while he cleaned the large objective lens that projected images on to the screen, and being fascinated by it,” says Bizheva. That fascination, coupled with her intense interest in how things work, led her to a career in biomedical optics.
Bizheva joined the Dept of Physics and Astronomy at ݮƵ in July 2004. Her research group is world renowned for developing ultrahigh resolution OCT (UHR-OCT) technology for ophthalmic applications.
Working with students has also been an important part of Bizheva’s career. She teaches introductory physics to first-year engineering students and the physics of medical imaging to third- and fourth-year science students. She also serves as a mentor to members of the FemPhys club. As an Optica Fellow, she has the opportunity to speak to students just starting in the field of biomedical optics and help influence the next generation of researchers.
Please join us in congratulating Bizheva on this distinction acknowledging her lifetime contributions to the field of optics!