How often do we think of the wonder of sight? Often only when something goes wrong, and then how relieved we are when something can usually be done to correct the problem. But have you ever stopped to think of the marvellous advances in the treatment of eye disease that have occurred in the last forty years? The high success rate of corneal grafts, treatment of cataract with lens implants, laser surgery and the development of modern contact lenses to name only a few, did not occur spontaneously but as the result of research by many dedicated people over the years. And there are many fields still being explored with exciting prospects for the relief of blindness and visual disability. Welcome to our website. If you would like to assist the ORIA with its ongoing work, please contact us.
RESEARCH MILESTONES
The ORIA has achieved some significant Research Milestones over the previous ten years. Please click HERE to read of the ORIA's achievements.
RESEARCH FUNDING
The ORIA is funding 11 projects in 2012 totalling just under $550,000. Details of the projects can be accessed by clicking on the Grants section.
Along with support for the Ringland Anderson Chair at Melbourne University, this brings the total distributed for the current year to just under $800,000 for research. We are grateful to Glaucoma Australia and the RANZCO Eye Foundation for their continuing support. Details of the projects can be accessed by clicking on Grants.
NATIONAL RESEARCH STRATEGY
NATIONAL RESEARCH STRATEGY
The ORIA is developing a list of eye research priorities to use in strategic planning and in negotiation with Government agencies. The current document is listed in alphabetical order.
The list is being refined by those Fellows principally involved in research but is available for wider comment. Thank you to those who have responded. We will be posting an updated version of the list once all comments are compiled.
If you would like to comment, please download the list and forward with inclusions/deletions or comments to Anne Dunn Snape at
National Research Strategy for Australia
Corneal Disease and External Disease
Explore the biology of the ocular surface to gain a better understanding of the interaction and regulation of these components under normal and pathological conditions
Investigate corneal infectious and inflammatory processes and immunological responses to develop treatments to reduce keratitis and prevent blindness
Identification of risk factors for iatrogenic diseases caused by refractive surgery, contact lens wear and inappropriate use of topical medications
Investigate wound healing process and develop strategie to optimise corneal refractive procedures
Develop newer and optimal additive refractive surgeries
Rapid diagnosis and improved treatment strategies for ocular infections
Factors affecting corneal graft survival and strategies to prevent rejection
To develop and evaluate techniques of customized component surgery of cornea in relation to corneal transplantation surgery.
Identify risk factors for occurrence of infectious keratitis and develop strategies for prevention.
Develop techniques of suture less corneal transplantation surgery.
Develop artificial human corneas.
Molecular genetic analysis of the corneal dystrophies and degenerations
Glaucoma
Develop screening techniques to identify subgroups at particularly high risk of primary open angle glaucoma
Natural history of glaucoma and risk factors for progression
Optimal treatment strategies to arrest disease progression
Understand Genotype/phenotype correlation
Understand the structure/ functioncorrelation
Identify the genetic basis for glaucoma
Develop simplified and sensitive measures of progression of optic nerve damage
Mechanisms for raised intraocular pressure
Evaluate the cost-efficiency of screening and prophylaxis interventions in populations of varying risk of angle closure glaucoma
Develop diagnostic methodologies and treatment regimens that lead to improved patient outcomes and prevent vision loss from glaucoma and other optic neuropathies
Understand the basic biology underlying the pathophysiology of glaucoma and other optic neuropathies
Develop new and novel treatment approaches, particularly neuroprotection
Understand and modify the wound healing response to filtration surgery
Lens and Cataract
Evaluate strategies to reduce the impact of the major complications of cataract Surgery
Analytical research to identify reasons for regional variation in cataract surgery rates and outcomes.
Develop better and easy drug delivery systems after cataract surgery
Identify environmental risk factors for age related cataract formation and understand their influence on lens homeostasis
Determine the genetic factors that interact with environmental influences to confer a susceptibility to age-related cataract
Determine the causes and mechanisms of age-related changes in the lens that lead to cataracts and presbyopia
Develop intraocular lens technology to fully restore accommodation
Evaluate intraocular lens technologies for the prevention of posterior capsular opacification after cataract surgery
Congenital cataracts, research into aetiology, develop strategies for earlier diagnosis and better management.
Low Vision and Blindness Rehabilitation
Develop rehabilitation strategies to minimize the impact of vision impairment in everyday life and reduce disability and societal limitations in visually impaired persons.
Develop research tools and assess interventions to give an evidence base for a rehabilitative care for the visually impaired
Establish the ramifications of impaired vision and blindness in Australia for everyday life, and target high-risk and underserved subpopulations
Create a network for the dissemination of research findings to adapt research findings for use in clinical and rehabilitation settings]
Paediatric Ophthalmology, Squint and Amblyopia
Understand the extent cause and impact of childhood vision impairment
Cost-benefit analysis of visual screening in children and determining the optimum age(s) for screening
Conduct randomized controlled trials screening and treatment of amblyopia and strabismus
Health-care delivery in management of strabismus and amblyopia
Identification of disease causing mutations
Investigation of disease mechanisms of treatment strategies and inherited eye disease
Refractive Error
Identify the genetic and environmental determinants of myopia
Identify social and cultural constraints to utilizing refractive services and spectacles
Develop protocols for the education, training, and certification of low-cost spectacle providers
Experiment with alternative organisational systems and infrastructural support for the sustainable provision of appropriate low-cost spectacles and the cost-benfit and cost-effectiveness of these interventions.
Apply evolving technologies to the treatment of refractive error in underserved populations
Investigate alternative interventions for reducing the incidence/progression of refractive error.
Retinal Disease
Develop strategies for primary, secondary and tertiaryprevention and improved treatment for AMD, diabetic retinopathy and retinal diseases
Documenting population variations in risk of these diseases to elucidate genetic and environmental markers risk factors and determine pathogenetic mechanisms
Develop better diagnostic tools for defining risk, early retinal disease, and tracking progression
Conduct operational research on extending efficient retinal screening and photocoagulation to disadvantaged populations suffering from diabetic retinopathy
Evaluation of novel treatments and improvement of existing treatments in AMD, and diabetic retinopathy and other retinal diseases. In particular develop treatments that are cost effective and logistically practical to deliver.
Understand the molecular and biochemical bases for AMD and its different forms, improve early diagnosis, characterize environmental effects on its aetiology and progression and develop new treatmens for both early and late disease
Develop methods to delay the progression of AMD
Characterization of phenotype of AMD genetic polymorphisms
Development of drugs to use in intraocular devices to control intraocular Inflammation and angiogenesis and adjunctive medications for vitreoretinal surgery especially after posterior segment trauma or PVR
Trachoma
Define the geographic distribution of trachoma
Determining what is required to sustain the reduction in prevalence of infection and active disease following antibiotic treatment
Demonstrating how SAFE can be most effectively delivered
