This project will develop a technique for detecting blind spots in the human field of vision by using virtual reality goggles to present a stimulus to the eye and then recording the tiny electrical signals from the brain that are generated in response to this. It will overcome many of the limitations of current subjective visual field testing and expand the potential market for the objective perimeter that we have developed. By recording from both eyes simultaneously it will halve the recording ....This project will develop a technique for detecting blind spots in the human field of vision by using virtual reality goggles to present a stimulus to the eye and then recording the tiny electrical signals from the brain that are generated in response to this. It will overcome many of the limitations of current subjective visual field testing and expand the potential market for the objective perimeter that we have developed. By recording from both eyes simultaneously it will halve the recording time and improve the ability to do inter-eye comparisons to look for early signs of glaucoma.Read moreRead less
DISSECTING THE GENETICS OF GLAUCOMA AND ITS RISK FACTORS USING A TWIN STUDY.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$682,850.00
Summary
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness both in Australia (affecting 2-3% of the population) and worldwide. Glaucoma is often asymptomatic until it causes permanent loss of peripheral vision that precludes 10% of individuals with the condition from holding a driver's license. Around 50% of people with glaucoma are unaware that they have the condition; therefore better screening strategies are required. Genetic factors have been shown to contribute to glaucoma and our work has revealed ....Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness both in Australia (affecting 2-3% of the population) and worldwide. Glaucoma is often asymptomatic until it causes permanent loss of peripheral vision that precludes 10% of individuals with the condition from holding a driver's license. Around 50% of people with glaucoma are unaware that they have the condition; therefore better screening strategies are required. Genetic factors have been shown to contribute to glaucoma and our work has revealed that 50% of people with glaucoma have a family history of the condition. Raised intraocular pressure (IOP) is a major contributing factor in glaucoma. Although there are some genes associated with high-pressure glaucoma, little is known about the heritability of IOP itself. Optic disc cupping is another important sign in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma, but again little is known of the inheritance of this feature. Twin studies, (comparing sets of identical twins with non-identical twins); allow us to estimate the relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors to disease states or physiological measurements. Although there have been small studies involving twins with glaucoma, it is unknown to what degree the basic parameters of glaucoma diagnosis such as IOP and optic disc characteristics are heritable. This project aims to conduct a large twin study into glaucoma and its associated ocular risk factors, including refractive error. We aim to identify genes that predispose to glaucoma, which will facilitate better screening for glaucoma in family members, and the general population, and ultimately leading to improved treatment.Read moreRead less
Characterising The Changes In Regulation Of Visual Contrast Sensitivity In Glaucoma.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$337,600.00
Summary
Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in developed nations. A recent study estimated the number of Australian's that will need regular visual examination in 2030 either because they have glaucoma or glaucomatous risk factors to be at least 800,000. As the ultimate aim of glaucoma treatment is to maintain vision, visual functional assessment is of paramount importance to glaucoma management . The current standard measure for the assessment of visual loss due to glaucoma is visual fiel ....Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in developed nations. A recent study estimated the number of Australian's that will need regular visual examination in 2030 either because they have glaucoma or glaucomatous risk factors to be at least 800,000. As the ultimate aim of glaucoma treatment is to maintain vision, visual functional assessment is of paramount importance to glaucoma management . The current standard measure for the assessment of visual loss due to glaucoma is visual field testing. Regrettably, substantial damage to retinal ganglion cells (the primary neurons affected by glaucoma) is often present prior to the discovery of visual field loss using standard measures. Indeed studies have demonstrated that even 30-50% retinal ganglion cell loss may only manifest as a mild visual field deficit using current standard testing. This project will use novel techniques for exploring sight impairment in glaucoma, enabling a better understanding of the underlying neural damage. Our pilot work demonstrates that these methods can detect loss of sight in areas diagnosed as normal using standard visual field testing. The study will provide new technologies for the assessment of early vision loss due to glaucoma that may enable the detection of malfunction of retinal ganglion cells prior to their death. Such measures of neural malfunction are essential to establishing the efficacy of new pharmacological therapies (known as neuroprotective agents) for glaucoma aimed at keeping retinal ganglion cells alive and functioning. This project also has the potential to identify visual measures that have better capability for monitoring the progression of vision loss due to glaucoma. Early detection of glaucoma and its progression is essential so that treatment can be initiated or altered, slowing the progression of vision loss and its toll on both the individual and the community.Read moreRead less
Neuroprotection In A Model Of Chronic Ocular Hypertension
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$264,221.00
Summary
Damage can occur to nervous tissues like the retina and brain when there is a reduction in the blood supply. This can occur in the eye disease, glaucoma, in which the pressure inside the eye is elevated. This serious condition often results in blindness. Much of the neuronal damage is thought to be due to the release of an excess of glutamate. Glutamate is a chemical (neurotransmitter) that nerves use to communicate with each other, but it is toxic to nerves when present at high concentrations. ....Damage can occur to nervous tissues like the retina and brain when there is a reduction in the blood supply. This can occur in the eye disease, glaucoma, in which the pressure inside the eye is elevated. This serious condition often results in blindness. Much of the neuronal damage is thought to be due to the release of an excess of glutamate. Glutamate is a chemical (neurotransmitter) that nerves use to communicate with each other, but it is toxic to nerves when present at high concentrations. This project will utilise a new model of glaucoma to investigate the mechanisms that regulate the concentration of glutamate in the retina. If these mechanisms could be made to work more efficiently, they may prevent the build-up of the glutamate and therefore prevent damage to the nerve cells. Understanding these mechanisms will aid in the development of an effective treatment to prevent visual loss in the 150,000 Australians who suffer from glaucoma.Read moreRead less
The aim of this project is to improve our understanding of the role that increased eye pressure (intraocular pressure or IOP) plays in the development of glaucoma-related nerve death and associated vision loss. Despite being the second leading cause of vision loss in Australia, our understanding of the factors that damage nerves in the eye (the ganglion cells that carry visual information to the brain) in glaucoma remains incomplete. For example, elevated eye pressure is a well-established risk ....The aim of this project is to improve our understanding of the role that increased eye pressure (intraocular pressure or IOP) plays in the development of glaucoma-related nerve death and associated vision loss. Despite being the second leading cause of vision loss in Australia, our understanding of the factors that damage nerves in the eye (the ganglion cells that carry visual information to the brain) in glaucoma remains incomplete. For example, elevated eye pressure is a well-established risk factor for glaucoma, but as many as half of those with glaucoma do not have high eye pressure. Clinical data suggests that pressure fluctuations (or spikes), which go unnoticed in routine clinical check ups, may be involved in glaucoma onset and progression. To date there has been no direct evidence to support this contention. This project aims to use a novel experimental model of pressure elevation in rodents to consider this possibility. By measuring the eye's electrical response to a flash of light it is possible to sensitively assess how pressure spikes, that are known to occur with regularity in humans, might affect the health of retinal ganglion cells. Anatomical measures will also be used to establish the sequence of events that cause cellular damage. This knowledge is an important public health issue, because it will improve understanding of the risk factors for the development of glaucoma. The results may lead to improvements in detection and treatment strategies such as closer monitoring for pressure spikes and more aggressive treatment for those who show greater variability in their eye pressures.Read moreRead less