Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / The connection between eye disease and diabetes is proven and is no longer a point of conjecture. In focusing attention on the retina, profound inroads have been made in the fight against this dreaded disorder of the blood. By carefully imaging the blood vessels in the eye, medical professionals can make accurate diagnoses based upon the changes and abnormalities observed. In addition, because the vasculature in the retina is extremely sensitive to fluctuations in normal bodily processes, often the first indication of diabetes and many other diseases manifest themselves here and are found during routine eye examinations. This thesis will explore the possibilities of a new method of retinal imaging by the blending and application of existing technologies. With the use of an automated, infrared-based imaging system, problems related to human error and the limitations of existing methods can be readily resolved and the groundwork can be laid for a new standard of accuracy in retinal imaging. Most importantly, it will automate the entire procedure providing medical specialists heretofore unavailable accuracy in their diagnoses. / http://archive.org/details/functionalspecif00domb / Lieutenant, United States Navy