JP4418271B2 - Fundus image processing method and fundus image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fundus image processing method for performing image processing of a fundus image input from a fundus photographing apparatus capable of electronically photographing a fundus image by selecting a plurality of photographing modes, and a fundus image processing apparatus. .

  In recent fundus photography devices, so-called fundus cameras, in addition to normal color photography (mydriasis and non-mydriasis), visible fluorescence or infrared fluorescence photography for viewing new blood vessels of the retina, and lesions such as blood vessels It is possible to shoot by selecting a plurality of shooting modes such as red-free shooting for diagnosing. The photographed fundus image is subjected to image processing by a fundus image processing device (hereinafter abbreviated as an image processing device) separate from the fundus camera, or an image processing device configured as an image processing unit inside the fundus camera, and is displayed on a monitor. It is displayed or stored in an external storage device and stored in a database. In fluorescence photography, image processing for converting a color image into a black and white image is performed. In red-free photography, a red-free filter is inserted into the optical system of the fundus camera, so the image is a color image centered in green, but it is difficult to see at the time of diagnosis and difficult to diagnose, so it is also converted to a black-and-white image. Has been.

  Thus, in order to obtain an optimal image corresponding to each of a plurality of shooting modes, a configuration is adopted in which image processing corresponding to the shooting mode is performed.

  For example, image processing parameters such as gain, gamma, and color temperature of an imaging device are automatically set optimally in accordance with a shooting mode signal output from a shooting mode setting switch of a fundus camera (Patent Document 1). ).

  In addition, when fluorescence imaging is performed, a timer indicating the passage of time since the administration of the fluorescent agent is activated, so that the fluorescence imaging is identified by the operation of this timer, and the fundus image captured while the timer is operating is a button Even if it is not converted into a black and white image by operation, it is automatically converted into a black and white image (Patent Document 2).

  Further, a configuration is adopted in which a look-up table suitable for each image is selected in accordance with a color or fluorescence photographing mode and tone conversion of image data is performed (Patent Document 3).

  In addition, the fundus camera CPU determines the shooting mode and transmits the shooting mode information to an external image processing unit, and the image processing unit selects an image processing parameter based on the shooting mode information and performs image processing. (Patent Document 4).

In addition, regarding red-free shooting, there is an error when the photographer switches the image input setting from color to black-and-white input on the image processing device side during shooting, so a red-free filter has been inserted into the optical system of the fundus camera. Is detected, a detection signal is sent to the image processing apparatus, and the image processing apparatus converts the green image into black and white accordingly.
JP 2001-245851 A JP 2000-217785 A JP 2003-10129 A Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-357385

  However, in the configuration of the conventional image processing apparatus, special information for determining the shooting mode such as the above-described shooting mode signal, shooting mode information, and red free filter insertion detection signal is sent from the fundus camera side. Image processing corresponding to the shooting mode is performed by determining the shooting mode based on the information. For this reason, an interface for exchanging the information is necessary for both the fundus camera and the image processing apparatus, and hardware specifications are added to both, resulting in a cost increase.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and it is possible to discriminate the photographing mode without error without providing special information from the fundus photographing apparatus (fundus camera), and to support the fundus image in the photographing mode. The problem is to shoot appropriately.

The present invention for solving the above problems
An image processing method and apparatus for fundus images electronically photographed by a fundus photographing apparatus capable of selecting a plurality of photographing modes,
Analyzing the fundus image to determine the photographing mode selected by the fundus photographing apparatus;
Image processing of the fundus image according to the determined shooting mode;
It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, since the fundus image is analyzed to determine the shooting mode, the shooting mode can be determined without error without providing special information from the fundus camera, and the fundus image can be determined. By performing image processing corresponding to the determined shooting mode, optimal image processing can be performed. Further, both the fundus photographing apparatus and the fundus image processing apparatus do not require an interface for exchanging special information for discriminating the photographing mode, and an excellent effect of reducing costs can be obtained.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The fundus image processing apparatus according to the embodiment analyzes a fundus image electronically photographed by a fundus camera (fundus photographing apparatus), determines a selected photographing mode, and performs image processing corresponding to the selected photographing mode. The processed image data of the fundus image is displayed on the display unit, stored in the image storage unit, and saved as a database. The fundus camera is assumed to be capable of photographing by selecting a plurality of photographing modes such as normal color photographing (mydriatic and non-mydriatic), infrared fluorescent photographing, visible fluorescent photographing, and red-free photographing.

  FIG. 1 shows configurations of a fundus camera 30 and a fundus image processing apparatus (filing apparatus) 50 according to the embodiment. In the fundus camera 30, the light emitted from the illumination lamp 1 and the light reflected by the mirror 1 ′ are totally reflected through the infrared cut filter 2 </ b> A or the visible cut filter 2 </ b> B, the condenser lens 3, the strobe 4, and the condenser lens 5. The light is reflected by the mirror 6, and then passes through the lens 7, the ring slit 8A, 8B or 8C for forming ring-shaped illumination, and further through the relay lens 9, and is reflected by the perforated total reflection mirror 10 having a hole in the center. The light enters the fundus Er of the eye E through the objective lens 11.

  In this illumination optical system, the infrared cut filter 2A is inserted into the optical path when the observation is performed by an observation unit (finder) 19 described later, and the visible cut filter 2B is inserted into the optical path when the observation is performed by the infrared CCD 33. . Further, the visible fluorescence exciter filter 13A (having transmission characteristics in the vicinity of 450 to 520 nm) is used for visible fluorescence imaging, and the infrared fluorescence exciter filter 13B (having transmission characteristics for wavelengths of infrared light) is red for infrared fluorescence imaging. At the time of free photographing, a red free filter 13C (transmitting a wavelength of 450 nm to 650 nm and having a maximum transmission characteristic for a wavelength near 560 nm) is inserted.

  The ring slits 8A, 8B, and 8C are combinations of the circular aperture stops 81, 83, and 85 and the circular light shielding plates 82, 84, and 86 shown in FIG. 3, respectively. The diameter of the light shielding plate is different. Normally, the standard ring slit 8A is insufficient when the patient's mydriatic state is insufficient, or the subject is a child and has a small pupil. At the time of visible fluorescent photographing, a fluorescent ring slit 8C is inserted into the optical path.

  The reflected light from the fundus Er is received through the objective lens 11, passes through the variable magnification lens 14 and the focusing lens 15 through the hole of the perforated total reflection mirror 10, and enters the return mirror 16. The return mirror 16 is inserted at the position shown in the figure at the time of observation, and the fundus image is guided to the observation unit (finder) 19 via the return mirror 17 and the lens group 18, and the examiner observes the fundus and performs alignment and focusing. And so on. Further, infrared observation of the fundus can also be performed. At that time, the return mirror 17 is detached from the optical path, and the fundus image is guided to the infrared CCD 33 through the mirror 34. Since the fundus image is output and displayed on the monitor 36 via the switching unit 35, the examiner can observe the fundus.

  During imaging other than infrared fluorescent imaging, the return mirror 16 is retracted from the optical path, and the fundus image is received by the color (for visible light) CCD 31 and imaged. At the time of infrared fluorescent photographing, the return mirror 17 is retracted from the optical path, and the fundus image is received by the infrared CCD 33 and captured. The image signal from the color CCD 31 or the infrared CCD 33 is output to the image processing device 50 via the switching unit 35, and the fundus image is processed as described later. Note that the visible fluorescence barrier filter 22A is inserted into the optical path during visible fluorescence imaging, and the infrared fluorescence barrier filter 22B is inserted into the optical path during infrared fluorescence imaging.

  The CPU 12 of the fundus camera 30 receives an operation signal from the operation unit 23, turns on / off the lamp 1, inserts / removes the filters 2A, 2B, 13A to 13C, 22A, 22B according to the photographing mode, and operates the shutter 32. Control of the light emission of the strobe 4 synchronized with the above, the exchange of the variable magnification lenses 14 and 14 ', the insertion and removal of the return mirrors 16 and 17, the operation of the color CCD 31 and the infrared CCD 33, and the like.

  FIG. 3 shows illumination filters 2A, 2B and 13A to 13C, ring slits 8A to 8C, and imaging filters (barrier filters) 22A and 22B for each imaging mode, selection of observation means and imaging means, and whether or not a timer is activated. The correspondence relationship is illustrated. From this figure, it can be understood which ring slit, illumination filter, imaging filter, observation means, and imaging means are selected according to the imaging mode. In FIG. 3, “0” of the observation light amount and the photographing light amount indicates a default value, “+” means that the light amount is increased, and “++” means that the light amount is further increased from “+”. is doing.

  The image processing device 50 analyzes the fundus image input from the color CCD 31 or the infrared CCD 33 of the fundus camera 30 via the switching unit 35 to determine the shooting mode, and performs image processing according to the determined shooting mode. An image processing unit 40 to perform, a control unit 48 to control the entire image processing apparatus, an image storage unit 47 such as a hard disk device for storing image data of the processed image signal and storing it in a database, and displaying an image by the processed image signal The display unit 49 and the timer 21 are configured. The timer 21 measures the elapsed time from the administration of the fluorescent agent to the subject for fluorescent imaging, and is activated according to the operation of a switch (not shown) that is operated when the examiner administers the fluorescent agent. . The switch may be provided on the image processing apparatus 50 side or may be provided on the fundus camera 30 side.

  The R, G, and B image signals of the fundus image from the fundus camera 30 are digitized and stored as color signals in the memory (RAM) 45 of the image processing unit 40 as shown in FIG. 2 in synchronization with the shutter. Is done.

  In addition, the image processing unit 40 includes a setting unit 41, and the setting unit 41 uses the RGB gain an (n = 0, 1, 2,...), Black level bn (n = 0) of the fundus image. , 1, 2,...) And gamma correction cn (n = 0, 1, 2,...) Can be set, and in the illustrated example, the original image is reproduced. (A0, b0, c0), for color photography (a1, b1, c1), for visible fluorescent photography (a2, b2, c2), for infrared fluorescent photography (a3, b3, c3), red The parameters (a4, b4, c4) are set for free shooting. These set parameters are stored in the image processing unit 40 in the form of a table (storage means) 42. Such parameter setting values can be arbitrarily set. In this case, the setting value in the fluorescent photographing mode may be fixed and the setting value for the color photographing mode may be arbitrarily set.

  Further, the image processing unit 40 is provided with a photographing mode discriminating unit (photographing mode discriminating means) 39, which is a shutter synchronization signal generated by the operation of the shutter 32 of the fundus camera 30 during photographing in each photographing mode. Accordingly, a process for determining the shooting mode is performed as described later.

  The image processing unit 40 includes a matrix processing calculation unit 43 and a black and white conversion unit 44. The matrix processing calculation unit 43 and the black and white conversion unit 44 perform image processing according to the photographing mode in which the fundus image is determined. A processing means is configured. The matrix processing calculation unit 43 performs R, G, and B according to a set of parameter patterns (an, bn, cn) that are alternatively read from the table 42 according to the shooting mode determined by the shooting mode determination unit 39. Among the signals of the image data, R ′ = R * (an + bn + cn) is formed from the R signal, G ′ = G * (an + bn + cn) is formed from the G signal, and B ′ = B * (an + bn + cn) is formed from the B signal. Accordingly, these R′G′B ′ signals are displayed on the display unit 50. The black and white conversion unit 44 is for converting the fundus image into a black and white image when infrared fluorescence, visible fluorescence photography, or red free photography is determined.

  The shooting mode discriminating unit, the matrix calculation processing unit 43, the black and white conversion unit 44, and the like of the image processing unit 40 are realized by a logical calculation and data processing function of a CPU (not shown) provided in the image processing unit 40.

  In the above-described configuration, the fundus camera 30 performs fundus observation through the observation unit 19 or the monitor 36, and when the preparation for fundus photographing is performed by performing alignment and focus adjustment, the examiner operates the shutter 32. In synchronism with the shutter operation, the CPU 12 causes the strobe 4 to emit light as necessary, operates the color CCD 31 or the infrared CCD 33 according to the photographing mode, the fundus image is captured as a still image, and the fundus image signal is switched. The data is output to the image processing device 50 via the unit 35 and stored in the memory 45 of the image processing unit 40.

  In the image processing unit 40, the shooting mode determination unit 39 starts a shooting mode determination operation in response to the shutter synchronization signal. As described later, the presence or absence of the operation of the timer 21 and the data analysis result of the fundus image stored in the memory 45 Based on the above, the photographing mode selected on the fundus camera side is determined. Then, one set of image processing parameter patterns stored in the table 42 in accordance with the determined photographing mode is selected and read out, and the fundus image is subjected to image processing. That is, (a0, b0, c0) is output when the original image is output as it is, (a1, b1, c1) is used for color photographing, and (a2, b2, c2) is displayed for visible fluorescent photographing. (A3, b3, c3) is read out during infrared fluorescent photographing, and (a4, b4, c4) is read out during red-free photographing, and the RGB of the image signal is read by the matrix processing calculation unit 43 based on the parameter setting values. Gain, black level, and gamma correction are performed, and the image data processed with this parameter setting value is temporarily stored in the memory 46 and displayed on the display unit 50 or stored in the image storage unit 47 and converted into a database. Saved. Here, it is preferable that the image data of the fundus image is stored in association with the determined shooting mode data.

  Note that when a visible fluorescence and infrared fluorescence photography mode or a red free photography mode is determined, a color image is not required. Therefore, an image signal from the color CCD 31 may be directly converted into a monochrome image by the monochrome conversion unit 44. . In addition, since the timer 21 is operated at the time of visible fluorescence and infrared fluorescence photography, timer information indicating the elapsed time since administration of the fluorescent agent is imprinted in a blank portion of the image. Alternatively, the timer information data may be stored in association with the image data of the image signal to be stored as additional information together with the shooting mode data.

  By the way, in visible and infrared fluorescence imaging, there are individual differences in the skills of the subject's eyes and the examiner (photographer), and a beautiful fundus image cannot always be taken. That is, conventionally, in fluorescence imaging, the examiner checks the fundus image on the monitor, and if the image is dark and has poor contrast, the inspector has increased the amount of strobe light. In order to see the leaking moment, it was necessary to take a quick picture, and it was difficult to check the monitor image and change the amount of strobe light. Therefore, in this embodiment, the color CCD 31 and the infrared CCD 33 of the fundus camera 30 have a high dynamic range, and at the time of fluorescent photographing, the image processing unit 40 performs gradation conversion processing for enhancing contrast on the fundus image data. .

  Details of the image processing including the above-described gradation conversion processing according to the shooting mode determination operation and the determination result by the shooting mode determination unit 39 in the image processing unit 40 as described above will be described. In the following processing, the processing for determining the shooting mode (steps S2 to S6, S12 to S15, S18) is the shooting mode determination unit 39, and the image processing (steps S7 to S10, S16, S17, S19) is a matrix processing calculation. This is performed by the unit 43 and the black-and-white conversion unit 44, both of which are performed under the control of the CPU of the image processing unit.

  First, in response to a shutter synchronization signal generated by operating the shutter 32 of the fundus camera 30, an analog image signal of the fundus imaged by the fundus camera 30 is A / D converted at a high sampling rate of 10 bits and stored as digital image data. 45 is read (step S1). Here, A / D conversion may be performed with 12 bits, and 10 bits may be replaced with 12 bits in the following processing.

  Thereafter, the shooting mode is determined. However, since it takes time to analyze and determine all of the read image data, for example, one line of image data for every 10 to 20 lines of scanning data. Is extracted about 1/10 to 1/20 of the entire image data (step S2).

  Next, it is checked whether or not the timer 21 that is activated at the time of visible fluorescence and infrared fluorescence imaging is activated (step S3). If activated, the imaging mode at the time of imaging from which the image signal is obtained is changed to visible fluorescence or It discriminate | determines from infrared fluorescence imaging | photography mode, and progresses to step S4.

  Here, in the infrared fluorescent photographing, since the infrared CCD 33 performs black-and-white photographing, the R, G, and B components of the fundus image signal are substantially equal. In step S4, are the R, G, and B components substantially equal? If it is almost equal, the imaging mode selected by the fundus camera is determined as the infrared fluorescence imaging mode (step S5), and if not equal, it is determined as the visible fluorescence imaging mode (step S6).

  Subsequently, image processing in steps S7 to S11 and S17 is performed. In particular, steps S7 to S10 are processes for enhancing the above-described contrast.

  In step S7, a gradation level histogram of the image data extracted in step S2 is calculated. A graph of an example of the histogram is shown on the upper side of FIG. 5, the horizontal axis indicates 10-bit gradation levels from 0 to 1024, and the vertical axis indicates the number of pixels.

  In step S8, the calculated histogram data is viewed, and, as shown in FIG. 5, the lower limit and upper limit floors for setting the enlargement range for the enlargement gradation conversion process performed in the next step S9 in the intermediate area of the gradation level. The tone level threshold values S1 and S2 are set. This is because in the gradation region where it is determined that the pixel is generated due to external factors such as noise in the regions at both ends of the low and high gradation levels by looking at the histogram value of the number of pixels at each gradation level. Set to the boundary tone value.

  In step S9, for all of the fundus image data on the memory 45, as shown on the lower side of FIG. 5, the extension range from the gradation level threshold values S1 to S2 is increased from the lowest gradation level value 0 to the highest. Stretching gradation conversion processing for gradation conversion is performed by 10-bit calculation so that the range is expanded to a value up to 1024, 0 for the threshold value S1 or less, and 1024 for the threshold value S2 or more.

  In step S10, gamma processing is performed on the image data obtained in step S9. Here, the setting value of the gamma conversion parameter that differs depending on whether the photographing mode determined in step S5 or S6 is the infrared fluorescent photographing mode or the visible fluorescent photographing mode is read from the table 42 and is used to change from 10 bits to 8 bits. Perform gamma conversion. When 8-bit image data is obtained using a conventional CCD with no dynamic range and gamma conversion from 8 bits to 8 bits is performed, a gradation skip occurs at a certain gray level, resulting in a rough image. However, in this embodiment, a smooth gray curve with no gradation skip can be obtained by performing gamma conversion from 10 bits to 8 bits using a CCD with a high dynamic range.

  In step S11, the time measurement information (elapsed time from administration of the fluorescent agent) of the timer 21 is read and copied to the portion corresponding to the margin of the image data processed in step S10.

  Subsequently, black and white conversion processing is performed on the image data obtained by the above processing (step S17), and the processed image data is written in the image storage unit 47 together with additional information data such as the imaging mode and subject information, and the database. (Step S20). At this time, the timing information of the timer 21 may be written as additional information.

  On the other hand, if the timer 21 is not activated in step S3, it is determined that the mode is not the fluorescence shooting mode, and the color shooting mode and the red free shooting mode are determined in steps S12 to S15 and S18. Here, the discrimination is performed by using the difference between the color components of R, G, and B in the fundus image captured in color and the fundus image captured in red free shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 show examples of gradations of R, G, and B color components in image data for one line of the fundus image, the vertical axis represents 10-bit gradation values from 0 to 1024, and the horizontal axis represents one line. The X coordinate is taken. In a color image, the gradation values are R component, G component, and B component in descending order, but the B component is not extremely small. On the other hand, the red free image has a feature that the B component is extremely small and extremely small, and the R component is smaller than the G component. Regarding the color components of the fundus image, although the ratio varies depending on the characteristics of the filter used for shooting, individual differences in the fundus, and differences in eye colors including foreigners, the R, G, and B tone configurations Shows the same tendency as above.

  Using this fact, the gradation value of the image data extracted in step S2 is examined, and the ratio of the sum of the average value of the R component value and the average value of the G component value to the average value of the B component value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value K1. (Step S12), whether or not the average value of the B component values is less than or equal to the predetermined value K2 (step S13), and the average value of the G component values is the average of the R component values. It is determined whether or not the value is higher than the value (step S14). If any of the determination results is NO, the color shooting mode is determined (step S18). If all the determination results are YES, the red free shooting mode is determined. It discriminate | determines (step S15). Note that the determination in step S12 is performed in order to distinguish between a case where the image is dark in color shooting and a case where the image is red free.

  When the color photographing mode is determined, gamma processing is performed on the fundus image data on the memory 45 (step S19). Here, the setting value of the gamma conversion parameter for the color photographing mode is read from the table 42, and gamma conversion from 10 bits to 8 bits is performed using the set values. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S20.

  If the red-free shooting mode is determined, the setting value of the gamma conversion parameter for the red-free shooting mode is read from the table 42, and is used to perform gamma conversion from 10 bits to 8 bits (step S16). After performing black and white conversion (step S17), the process proceeds to step S20.

  In step S20, as described above, the processed fundus image data is written to the image storage unit 47 together with additional information data such as the imaging mode and subject information, and stored as a database.

  According to the present embodiment as described above, when the fundus image captured from the fundus camera 9 is input to the image processing device 50, it is determined whether or not the fluorescence imaging mode is performed based on whether or not the timer 21 is activated, In addition, the color components of the fundus image are analyzed to determine each of the infrared fluorescence, visible fluorescence, color, and red-free shooting modes, so that the shooting mode can be set without error without providing special information from the fundus camera 9 side. Can be determined. In addition, since image processing of the fundus image is performed in accordance with the imaging mode determined as described above, an optimal fundus image can be obtained. In addition, the conventional interface for transmitting special information for determining the photographing mode from the fundus camera side to the image processing apparatus side becomes unnecessary in both the fundus camera 9 and the image processing apparatus 50, and the cost can be reduced in both. .

  In addition, in the case of image data of infrared fluorescence and visible fluorescence, gamma conversion from 10 bits to 8 bits is performed after the above-described enlargement gradation conversion processing, so that the contrast is enhanced and the gradation is increased. There is no jumping, a clear image with high contrast can be obtained, a lesion etc. can be easily seen, and a fundus image that is extremely effective for diagnosis can be obtained.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the fundus camera in the Example of this invention, and a fundus image processing apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the detailed structure of an image processing part, the content of image processing, etc. It is a table | surface figure which shows the correspondence of each imaging | photography mode, the presence or absence of a filter, a ring slit, the operation of a timer, an observation means, an imaging means, etc. It is a flowchart figure which shows the image processing procedure in an image processing apparatus. It is a diagram explaining a stretch gradation conversion process. It is a diagram showing the gradation of each color component of R, G, B in image data for one line of a color image. It is a diagram which shows the gradation of each color component in the image data for 1 line of a red free image.

Explanation of symbols

12 CPU
21 Timer 30 Fundus camera 31 Color CCD
32 Shutter 33 Infrared CCD
39 Imaging Mode Discriminating Unit 40 Image Processing Unit 41 Setting Unit 42 Table 43 Matrix Processing Calculation Unit 44 Monochrome Conversion Unit 45, 46 Memory 47 Image Storage Unit 49 Display Unit 50 Fundus Image Processing Device (Filing Device)

Claims (10)

An image processing method for a fundus image electronically photographed by a fundus photographing apparatus capable of selecting a plurality of photographing modes,
Analyzing the fundus image to determine the photographing mode selected by the fundus photographing apparatus,
A fundus image processing method, wherein the fundus image is subjected to image processing according to the determined photographing mode.   A plurality of sets of image processing parameters corresponding to each of the plurality of shooting modes are stored in advance, and the stored plurality of sets of image processing parameters are selected according to the determined shooting mode, and image processing is performed. The fundus image processing method according to claim 1.   The fundus image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the photographing mode is determined by analyzing each color component of the fundus image.   The fluorescent light imaging mode is discriminated when the fluorescent photographing timer is operated, and when the fluorescent photographing timer is not operated, the red free photographing mode or the color photographing mode is distinguished. The fundus image processing method according to any one of 1 to 3.   The fundus image processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fundus image is recorded in association with the determined shooting mode after image processing is performed in accordance with the determined shooting mode. . An image processing device for a fundus image electronically photographed by a fundus photographing device capable of selecting a plurality of photographing modes,
An imaging mode determining means for analyzing the fundus image and determining the imaging mode selected by the fundus imaging apparatus;
Image processing means for processing the fundus image according to the determined shooting mode;
A fundus image processing apparatus comprising: Storage means for storing a plurality of sets of image processing parameters corresponding to each of the plurality of shooting modes;
7. The image processing unit according to claim 6, wherein the image processing unit selects a plurality of sets of image processing parameters stored in the storage unit and performs image processing according to the shooting mode determined by the shooting mode determination unit. The fundus image processing apparatus described.   The fundus image processing apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the photographing mode determination unit determines a photographing mode by analyzing each color component of the fundus image.   The photographing mode discriminating unit discriminates between the visible fluorescent photographing mode and the infrared fluorescent mode when the fluorescent photographing timer is activated, and distinguishes between the red-free photographing mode and the color photographing mode when the timer is not activated. The fundus image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein:   10. The recording apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a recording unit configured to record a fundus image in association with the determined shooting mode after performing image processing according to the determined shooting mode. 10. Fundus image processing apparatus.

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