Retinal imagingImaging techniques of the maculaMacula and optic nerveOptic nerve head are becoming a mainstay in the management of ophthalmic and neurodegenerative diseases. The ability to monitor the change in individual cellular populations over time can provide information onOptic Neuritis (ON) disease activity and the need for intervention. As we approach implementing cellular-resolution imagingImaging into clinical practice, the ability to image retinal cellular activity remains an unmet clinical need. Detection of Apoptosing Retinal Cells (DARC) technology offers the potential to detect live apoptosis in-vivo at a cellular level, given the clear optical media of the eye. This uses a fluorescent annexin-A5 marker of early apoptosis that has been studied in both animals and humans, with promising results. The hope is that with further study, this technique can be used to provide real-time information onOptic Neuritis (ON) neurodegenerative disease activity both in glaucomaGlaucoma and CNS conditions such as Alzheimer’s diseaseAlzheimer’s disease, where apoptosis is thought to play a key role. The ability of DARC to reflect disease progression would provide a useful surrogate marker in clinical trials, expediting the availability of novel treatments to protect against sight loss and cognitive decline.