Detection of blood vessels in human retinal images using Ant Colony Optimisation method

In this, an attempt has been made to analyse blood vessels in human retinal digital images using Ant Colony Optimisation (ACO) based edge detection algorithm and was then correlated with Otsu and Matched filter methods. Results show that the ACO method provides high visual quality output with better detection of blood vessels. It provides better delineation, distinctly differentiates central veins, extracts small blood vessels and detects abnormalities in the image. The ratio of vessel-to-vessel free area using ACO method is distinctly different for normal and abnormal images (p < 0.005). It appears that this study is useful for mass screening and avoids complications at later stages of diseases. Copyright © 2011 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.