Research News

Queensland University of Technology School of Optometry

QUTs School of Optometry has a number of different vision-related projects, including:
• Myopia
• Anterior eye
• Medical retina
• Contact lens and visual optics
• Vision and driving
• Low vision
• Ophthalmic and visual optics
• Visual science
• ATSI eye care
• Other projects

For more information, please visit: www.hlth.qut.edu.au/opt/research/

QUT study to detect the early signs of macular degeneration

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) eye specialist and researcher Dr Beatrix Feigl is conducting a study to detect the early signs of age related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in Australia.

Using highly sensitive, non-invasive instruments, the only ones in Australia, Dr Feigl can perform a thorough eye test, which may pick up early signs of the condition.

To better define these early detection measures, Dr Feigl is now recruiting healthy volunteers as well as healthy relatives of AMD sufferers over the age of 50, to take part in this study and have a FREE eye test.

Identifying the early signs of AMD is important as preventative measures can be taken to reduce the damage associated with the condition, and help preserve remaining vision.

For further details, please contact Dr Beatrix Feigl on  07 3138 6147  or b.feigl@qut.edu.au 

 

Potential New tests for early detection of Diabetic Neuropathy

Professor Nathan Efron, Research Professor and Vision Domain Leader at the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology is looking at new tests for diabetic neuropathy - which can affect people with Diabetes Type I and Type II. It is hoped that early detection would help identify those at risk of this type of nerve damage, which can lead to foot ulceration and lower limb amputation.

The new tests are based on various non-invasive eye measurements to identify changes in peripheral nerves in the cornea (the front of the eye) and nerves in the retina (at the back of the eye) in patients suffering from diabetic neuropathy.  The researchers aim to determine the extent to which these ocular changes relate to other clinical signs and symptoms of neuropathy.

Dr Efron believes, "Accurate early detection of diabetic neuropathy is important to define at risk patients, anticipate and monitor deterioration, and assess new therapies."

More information on Professor Efron's research is available on the QUT website at: http://www.hlth.qut.edu.au/opt/research/anterioreye.jsp 

Queensland Eye Institute

Surgeons and scientists at the Queensland Eye Institute are involved in cutting-edge research into many different eye conditions affecting the front of the eye, inside the eye, the back of the eye,  and vision problems caused by abnormalities in the brain.

With a world leading pterygium surgeon, and clinicians and scientists working on development of new glaucoma tests, silk worms to develop new tissue for the treatment of corneal disease, and projects to develop better markers for brain tumours/abnormalities affecting vision, current research has the potential to provide new treatments for the future.

For more information on QEI''s current research projects visit: http://www.qei.org.au/

Centre for Eye Research Australia/Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital

Keratoconus Clinical Trial

A new experimental treatment called corneal collagen cross-linking is being trialled by the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) in Melbourne at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital with the assistance of Keratoconus Australia. This began as the world’s first large scale randomised clinical trial of a procedure, which offers hope of slowing or stopping the advance of the condition.
 
The technique, developed in Europe, involves collagen cross-linking using the photosensitiser riboflavin (vitamin B12) and ultraviolet light (UVA). So far over 100 patients with Keratoconus have been treated and will be followed for up to five years. Early results are promising.
 
For more information, please visit http://www.keratoconus.asn.au/CC_study.htm

University of Queensland

UQ Driver Retirement Study The University of Queensland drive team is studying the issues of driving in the older population. To do this they are seeking volunteers from the community and would like to hear from anyone who is in Brisbane or the South East region and is: · 60 years and older · has recently stopped driving · is considering the possibility of retiring from driving
· wishes to participate in research into driving issues in the older population
Participants will be assigned to a group, facilitated by an occupational therapist for a 6 week program, with meetings one morning a week. Each group will: · investigate ways for participants to stay active and involved in the community,
· discuss issues with others who have stopped or are about to stop driving
· take part in activities and outings
· enjoy light refreshments and social activities
This study is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council. For more information please call  07 3346 7478  or email uqdriveteam@uq.edu.au  or visit the UQdrive website is  www.uq.edu.au/uqdrive
Click here to view flyer.Flyer%201.pdf

Retina Australia and the Western Australian Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation

Australian Inherited Retinal Disease Register & DNA Bank

About our Research
The aim of this work is to establish a comprehensive Australian Inherited Retinal Disease (IRD) Register and DNA Bank, and to progressively genetically analyse stored DNA samples in an attempt to identify IRD-causing mutations.

The number of DNA samples is steadily growing to thousands.  A summary of this work including DNA samples collected and results of genetic analyses can be found on our web-site (without identifying information) www.scgh.health.wa.gov.au/Research/InheritedRetinal.html.   DNA may be made available to other approved research groups who wish to carry out and report back on IRD targeted genetic analyses, thereby increasing the power of this resource. Under no circumstances will participants’ identifying information be provided to other research groups. 

As the project progresses, the list of individuals within Australia for whom disease causing mutations have been identified will grow.  The well-considered conduct of this project will therefore place Australians affected by specific IRDs in an enviable position for taking advantage of gene-specific treatments as they continue to emerge over the coming years, and may lead to informed genetic counselling for participants.

This research is entirely supported by grants from the Western Australian Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation (www.retinitispigmentosa.com.au) and Retina Australia (www.retinaaustralia.com.au).

How can I participate?
If you wish to be involved in this work please contact Tina Lamey on  08 9346 3586  or tina.lamey@health.wa.gov.au

University of New South Wales

Stem Cell Research for corneal disease

Scientists at the University of New South Wales have recently reported a breakthrough in stem cell research for the eye. Using contact lenses as a means to deliver stem cells to the surface of the eye, they have managed to restore vision in patients with badly damaged corneas.
Stem cells are “immature cells” that have the capacity to develop into different types of “mature” cells, even eye cells, and adults have small numbers of these cells in their body - as a reserve to repair damaged tissue.
In this study, 2 patients with corneal disease in only one eye had stem cells harvested from their healthy eye. The other patient had bilateral disease and stem cells were harvested from an adjacent tissue site, the conjunctiva. These cells were then grown on a contact lens in the laboratory before the contact lens was placed in the damaged eye for approximately 10-days.

In the three patients treated the stem cells migrated off the contact lenses and began to heal the damaged corneas, improving vision.
To read more about this work, visit: http://www.unsw.edu.au/news/pad/articles/2009/may/Blind_stemcells.html
There is also an article in the July issue of mivision magazine and a youtube video: http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2009/06/stem_cell_contact_lenses_cure_blindness_in_less_than_a_month-2/

Overseas Research

A telescope for sufferers of retinal disease

In the US, a tiny telescope has been implanted into one eye of patients with retinal disease to help restore their eyesight. Patients with advanced macular degeneration, where the cells at the centre of the retina are damaged, had the telescope implanted in the eye in place of the natural lens.
The telescope works by magnifying the image that falls on the retina enabling healthy cells toward the periphery of the damaged macula to process the light signal entering the eye. This enables patients to read, watch TV and recognise faces. The other eye is unaltered, so that the patient can use his/her peripheral vision from this unaltered eye for orientation and mobility. 
The patients who have received a telescope needed training to learn to deal with the different visual signals coming from each eye. In the 200 patients that have received the implants so far, it has been reported that most of the patients have been able to adapt. Other researchers are investigating telescopes mounted on spectacle frames.
For more information see: http://www.visioncareinc.net/technology.html