Key Research Areas

Corneal Graft Registry

About 1200 Australians receive a corneal transplant every year. OECVR has an Australia-wide Corneal Graft Registry containing more than 22,000 individual transplantation records extending over 25 years. We track outcomes of corneal transplants to identify risk factors for graft failure and in parallel laboratory studies we try to reduce the incidence of rejection using a gene therapy–based approach.

Premature babies

Retinopathy of prematurity is an eye disease that can affect very small, premature infants and is a leading cause of blindness in the young. We are investigating reasons for susceptibility, particularly genetic traits, to help identify at-risk infants.

Silicon scaffolds

In collaboration with colleagues in the Department of Chemistry, OECVR researchers are exploring the potential of nanostructured porous silicon biomaterials for the efficient delivery of drugs and cells to the surface of the eye.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is the second most prevalent cause of blindness in the world and in most cases can be prevented if those at risk are treated early. The Australian and New Zealand Registry of Advanced Glaucoma was established by Flinders University to provide the world's largest collection of advanced glaucoma cases, along with clinical information and DNA. Genetic screening of those at risk will enable early treatment and help prevent blindness.

Genetics

Little is known about the genetics of glaucoma and a more thorough understanding of the biological pathways involved may lead to better risk prediction and treatment options. One area of research is why some diabetes patients develop very severe eye complications which may uncover novel therapeutic targets.

Strokes and vision loss

Neurological vision loss with homonymous visual field defect results in reduced quality of life and an increased risk of dependence. Optimising visual function can be achieved with visual rehabilitation – but the optimal dose and frequency of this therapy has not been defined. A randomised controlled trial is examining its effectiveness.

Retinal artery occlusion

A trial has just finished into the efficacy of intravenous thrombolysis in acute central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) – a condition that causes permanent, profound loss of vision. There is currently no proven treatment that improves vision after CRAO, but our trials using medication called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) show promising signs of visual recovery.

Aquaporins in the eye

Aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of proteins that play an important role in water transport in numerous tissues – but their role in ocular tissue has never been fully characterised. We aim to locate and quantify AQPs within ocular tissue using three unique detection methods: quantitative real-time PCR (Q-PCR), immunohistochemistry, and Western blot analysis.

Retinal vascular abnormalities

A case control study is currently underway to gain insights into the natural history of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), a condition that causes spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Given the close relationship between cerebral and retinal blood vessels, Flinders researchers are examining whether abnormalities seen in CAA, such as micro-aneurysms and micro-hemorrhages, may also be seen on funduscopic examination in order to use eye examination as a marker for CAA activity and monitoring.

Measuring vision-specific quality of life

Loss of eyesight affects 500,000 Australians and costs the country nearly $10 billion a year in health and community support.  But while eye disease is the focus of considerable clinical research, the overall impact of the disease and treatment on the patient’s quality of life is often a matter of conjecture.  The Flinders team is now leading world research to develop more effective ways of evaluating medical treatments from the patient’s perspective.The project is using new technology to develop an internet-based measurement system that is adaptable and far more accurate than current questionnaire programs. The aim is to make it valid for use across the English-speaking world.

Optical quality and visual performance

As part of an ongoing study sponsored by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Flinders researchers are attempting to unravel the highly complex link between the optics of the eye and visual performance.  A major thrust of the work has been the development of optical quality metrics that can predict the visual performance of diseased eyes. The research has already contributed to the understanding of how eye disease and surgery can affect optical quality.  Predicting visual performance from optical quality could revolutionise clinical practice through rapid and accurate patient evaluation.

Clinical assessment of eye imaging devices

In recent years there has been a rapid increase in the number of devices available to image the anterior segment of the human eye. They often reach the marketplace without proper studies into their validity or reliability.  Professor Pesudovs and his team are now working with industry on clinical trials to determine the accuracy of particular devices when used on people with eye conditions.