School of Optometry and Vision Sciences

Research Interests

My research interests are concentrated on the anterior ocular surface and contact lens wear, and include tear film physiology, corneal epithelium, corneal sensation, ocular surface topography, contact lens complications and contact lens design. I am interested in how contact lens wear or pathological conditions such as dry eye affect the cornea and tear film. In the past, I have also published papers on topics as varied as visual impairment, eye movements and optometric practice. 

I work within the Contact Lens and Anterior Eye Research Unit (CLAER) which includes members of staff from different disciplines within the School. The focus of the unit is principally on clinically-related research in corneal function, tear-film physiology and contact lenses. A better knowledge of the interaction between the cornea and the tear-film is vital in understanding the aetiology and treatment of dry-eye, and for successful contact lens wear. Emerging techniques in biochemistry now permit the examination of the tear film for inflammatory markers and electrolyte concentration: one of the core aims of the unit is to attempt to connect the biological and clinical findings in ocular and systemic abnormalities.

CLAER has access to a range of laboratory facilities that include: slit-lamp bio-microscopy, digital video analysis of blinking, corneal aesthesiometry, tear osmometry, tear film assessment, keratoscopy, ocular coherence tomography, tear collection and analysis by gel electrophoresis.  The Unit is also involved in industrial collaborations and contract studies as part of product development. Previous collaborations have included Ultralase Ltd, Chemedica TRB Essilor . For more details, please consult CLAER website.