GIMP and Wavelets for Medical Image Processing: Enhancing Images of the Fundus of the Eye

TL;DR

This paper explores a novel approach to enhancing fundus eye images using GIMP and wavelet filters, providing an alternative to traditional segmentation methods for medical diagnosis.

Contribution

It demonstrates how combining GIMP and wavelet filtering can improve fundus image quality without complex segmentation algorithms.

Findings

Enhanced fundus images suitable for diagnosis

Alternative to complex segmentation techniques

Effective use of free, accessible tools

Abstract

The visual analysis of retina and of its vascular characteristics is important in the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases of visual perception. In the related medical diagnoses, the digital processing of the fundus images is used to obtain the segmentation of retinal vessels. However, an image segmentation is often requiring methods based on peculiar or complex algorithms: in this paper we will show some alternative approaches obtained by applying freely available tools to enhance, without a specific segmentation, the images of the fundus of the eye. We will see in particular, that combining the use of GIMP, the GNU Image Manipulation Program, with the wavelet filter of Iris, a program well-known for processing astronomical images, the result is giving images which can be alternative of those obtained from segmentation.