Optic disc segmentation by means of GA-optimized topological active nets

Abstract

In this paper we propose a new approach to the optic disc segmentation process in digital retinal images by means of Topological Active Nets (TAN). This is a deformable model used for image segmentation that integrates features of region-based and edge-based segmentation techniques, being able to fit the edges of the objects and model their inner topology. The optimization of the Active Nets is performed by a genetic algorithm, with adapted or new ad hoc genetic operators to the problem. The active nets incorporate new energy terms for the optic disc segmentations, without the need of any pre-processing of the images. We present results of optic disc segmentations showing the advantages of the approach. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.