Retinal detachment

We use image analysis techniques to study and improve the care of patients with surgical retinal disease.

We have identified a novel feature that can identify and may be able to predict retinal detachment, have discovered previously unknown effects on the retina from macular hole surgery, and developed new ways to study the effects of surgery on visual outcomes.

Our research

1% of Australians suffer a retinal detachment, and most lose vision even with effective surgical treatment.

Prophylactic therapy is available but for most case we cannot identify who needs it before the detachment has occurred. Our programs using machine learning have identified novel signs in the retinal shape, imaged with high resolution ocular coherence tomography, that can identify eyes with retinal detachment. Working with our partners to confirm that this can predict who is at risk will enable the prevention of vision loss.

Surgery for a macular hole can improve the eyesight of those affected. The continued development worldwide of novel surgical tools, materials and techniques aims to enhance care and improve outcomes. Our research has discovered previously unknown effects of surgery on retinal structure and identified new measures to evaluate what works best for the patient.

Research projects

Developing a test for retinal detachment – Australian Vision Research
The Prediction of Retinal Detachment from retinal Irregularity in optical Coherence Tomography (PReDICT) study – Flinders Foundation.

Key publications

Gurung, R.L., Lake, S., Durkin, S. et al. Connecting the dots: the role of genetics in posterior vitreous detachment. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-025-06869-8
Lake, S. R., Bottema, M. J., Lange, T., Williams, K. A. & Reynolds, K. J. Swept-Source OCT Mid-Peripheral Retinal Irregularity in Retinal Detachment and Posterior Vitreous Detachment Eyes. Bioengineering Vol. 10(3); 377 (2023).
Lake, S. R., Bottema, M. J., Williams, K. A., Lange, T. & Reynolds, K. J. Retinal Shape-Based Classification of Retinal Detachment and Posterior Vitreous Detachment Eyes. Ophthalmol. Ther. 12(1); 155-165 (2022). Doi:10.1007/S40123-022-00597-6.
Lake, S., Bottema, M., Williams, K. & Reynolds, K. The Correlation Between Optical Coherence Tomography Retinal Shape Irregularity and Axial Length. Plos One 14, E0227207 (2019).
Lake, S., Marthiasen C., Clarke, J. Laterality Errors and Risk Reduction Across the Entire Care Pathway at an Ambulatory Day Surgery, 2013–2023
Stewart Lake, Carina Mathiasen, Jon Clarke. Clin Experiment Ophthal (2025), https://doi.org/10.1111/ceo.14562

Funders and partners

Flinders Foundation
Australian Vision research

Research team

Associate Professor Stewart Lake, Group Lead

Associate Professor Stewart Lake is a consultant vitreo-retinal surgeon and Senior Lecturer at Flinders Medical Centre and Flinders University. He also serves as a Visiting Medical Officer at Royal Darwin and Alice Springs Hospitals, providing specialist care across both metropolitan and remote settings. With a PhD in Engineering from Flinders University and dual fellowships with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (UK), Stewart’s research focuses on advanced image analysis to improve the diagnosis, management and outcomes of retinal disease.