Development and evaluation of depth estimation from plenoptic imaging for application in retinal imaging

Plenoptic imaging is a technology by which a three dimensional representation of the world can be captured in a single image. Previous research has focused on the technology itself, with very little focusing on applications of the technology. This thesis presents an investigation into its potential application to the field of retinal imaging, with the aim of producing three dimensional images of the retina at a cheaper cost than the current gold standard of retinal imaging, optical coherence tomography. Both a theoretical and practical approach have been utilised through the means of computational simulations and plenoptic imaging through the use of a commercial camera. Significant steps have been taken towards the overall goal, forming a strong foundation from which future projects will benefit.