Yuhua Zhang, PhD

The retina provides a unique window into the central nervous system, allowing its neural and vascular tissues to be observed noninvasively and at extraordinary detail. My research focuses on advanced ophthalmoscopy, particularly adaptive optics imaging, to study retinal and systemic diseases at the cellular and subcellular levels.

I lead the Advanced Ophthalmic Imaging Laboratory, where we develop high-resolution instruments that combine adaptive optics with scanning laser ophthalmoscopy and optical coherence tomography. These technologies allow us to visualize individual photoreceptors and blood cells in the living human eye. Our current research uses this capability to investigate age-related macular degeneration, measure blood flow within individual retinal capillaries, and identify changes associated with hypertension, diabetes, and cerebral small-vessel disease.

We are also developing adaptive optics fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy to study the metabolic function of retinal cells at the molecular level. This work may lead to more sensitive biomarkers for detecting disease earlier, monitoring its progression, and evaluating new treatments. My long-term goal is to create imaging technologies that deepen our understanding of diseases affecting the eye and central nervous system and ultimately improve patient care.

This research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Research to Prevent Blindness, W. M. Keck Foundation, International Retinal Research Foundation, EyeSight Foundation of Alabama, and Carl Marshall Reeves and Mildred Almen Reeves Foundation.

Liu R, Wang X, Soylu C, Corradetti G, Sadda SR, Zhang Y. Evaluating the Influence of the Lens Autofluorescence on Adaptive Optics Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Ophthalmoscopy. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2026;15(5):17. Published 2026 May 21. doi: 10.1167/tvst.15.5.17.

Wang X, Hoshi S, Liu R, Corradetti G, Ip M, Sarraf D, Sadda SR, Zhang Y. Photoreceptor Function and Structure in Retinal Areas With Intraretinal Hyperreflective Foci in Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2025;66(2):27. Published 2025 Feb 10. PMID: 39928312; PMCID: PMC11812613.

Wang X, Hoshi S, Liu R, Zhang Y. Modeling Human Macular Cone Photoreceptor Spatial Distribution. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2024;65(8):14. Published 2024 Jul 1. PMID: 38975943; PMCID: PMC11232901.

Liu R, Wang X, Hoshi S, Zhang Y. High-Speed Measurement of Retinal Arterial Blood Flow in the Living Human Eye With Adaptive Optics Ophthalmoscopy. Opt Lett. 2023;48(8):1994-1997. Published 2023 Apr 15. PMID: 37058625; PMCID: PMC11185870.

Wang X, Sadda SR, Ip MS, Sarraf D, Zhang Y. In Vivo Longitudinal Measurement of Cone Photoreceptor Density in Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Am J Ophthalmol. 2023;248:60-75. Epub 2022 Nov 24. PMID: 36436549; PMCID: PMC10038851.

Gu B, Sarraf D, Ip M, Sadda SR, Zhang Y. In Vivo Measurement of the Lineal Density of Red Blood Cells in Human Retinal Capillaries Using High-Speed Adaptive Optics Ophthalmoscopy. Opt Lett. 2021;46(14):3392-3395. Published 2021 Jul 15. PMID: 34264221; PMCID: PMC10214498.

Zhang Y, Wang X, Clark ME, Curcio CA, Owsley C. Imaging of Age-Related Macular Degeneration by Adaptive Optics Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy in Eyes With Aged Lenses or Intraocular Lenses. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2020; 9(8):41. Published 2020 Jul 29. PMID: 32855887, PMCID: PMC7422803

Zhang Y, Wang X, Sadda SR, Clark ME, Witherspoon CD, Spaide RF, Owsley C, Curcio CA. Lifecycles of individual subretinal drusenoid deposits and evolution of outer retinal atrophy in age-related macular degeneration. Ophthalmology Retina. 2020;4(3):274-283.PMC7065956

2022 NIH R01 grant to support his research on retinal hemodynamics using novel adaptive optics ophthalmoscopy.

2021 Catalyst Award from Research to Prevent Blindness

2008 University of Alabama Health Services Foundation Endowed Scholar Award

2008 International Society for Eye Research Travel Fellowship

2007 R&D 100 Awards, MEMS-based Adaptive Optics Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope

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• Leader of the organizing committee for the Doheny Oculomics Symposium, beginning in 2024
• Leader of the organizing committee for the Doheny ARVO Breakfast Research Symposium, beginning in 2023
• Mentor in the Caltech/UCLA Integrated NIH T32 Cardiovascular Engineering Training Program
• Member of the Ryan Initiative for Macular Research
• Member of Doheny’s Research Advisory Committee
• Academic editor for PLOS ONE