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Centre for Applied Vision Research
The Centre for Applied Vision Research (CAVR) at the School of Health Sciences undertakes cutting-edge research spanning laboratory-based fundamental studies in vision to translational clinical research on the detection, diagnosis and management of vision disorders.
Our Research
Vision in Health and Disease
Research within the Vision in Health and Disease Group is concerned with how the eye and visual system are affected by ageing and disease. The group comprises a multidisciplinary team of scientists and clinicians whose interests lie primarily in chronic sight-threatening eye diseases of the elderly (particularly glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration), diabetic eye disease and developmental disorders in children. Current research includes improved methods of screening, evaluation of prevention and treatment strategies for eye disease and determining how best to deliver eye care from the clinical, economic and patient perspective.
Research Group
Alistair Fielder (Emeritus Professor)
Measurement Techniques in Vision
The Measurement Techniques in Vision Group (Crabb Lab) consists of a mixture of researchers from optometry, psychology, mathematics, health economics and computer science.
We focus on measurement of vision through a multitude of methods such as assessment of visual fields, ophthalmic imaging, ocular movements and electrophysiology.
We relate stages of chronic eye disease and subsequent visual disability to everyday life. We design new tests for visual disorders, develop software to support clinical decisions and use ‘big data’ to assess the delivery of health services to patients with age related eye disease.
Research Group
Professor David Crabb (Group Lead)
Visual Neuroscience and Psychophysics
The disciplines within this group seek to explain mechanisms of vision from the retina to the cortex using a range of techniques based on the measurement of involuntary responses, brain imaging, behavioural studies and visual psychophysics.
The Visual Neuroscience labs study how cells along the visual pathway, from the photoreceptors of the retina to the neurons of the visual centres of the brain, process visual information. The work focuses on understanding the properties of visual mechanisms in a variety of species, using anatomical, biochemical, physiological and behaviourally based experimental techniques.
The majority of group members focus on the use of visual psychophysics to study the properties of both low and high level visual mechanisms. Emphasis is placed on studying subjects with damaged visual pathways and / or retinal and systemic diseases that affect vision. As a result, new tests that are specific for detecting early degradation of spatial vision, retinal inhibitory interactions, loss of chromatic sensitivity, binocular summation and motion perception have been developed and found important clinical applications. Improved understanding of the interaction of photoreceptor signals and the corresponding vision changes in the mesopic range led to new developments in lighting with direct application to residential streets.
Research Group
Optics and Occupational Vision
The Optics and Occupational Vision (OOV) Group seeks to understand how the optics of the eye affects vision and how this impacts visual requirements in different occupational environments. Our current focus is on ophthalmic optics, smart lighting and the establishment of minimum requirements within visually-demanding occupations. The work of the group has expanded significantly during the last two decades by addressing both clinical and industrial needs with worldwide impact in several working environments. The work has resulted in advanced understanding of mesopic and colour vision as well as the design and evaluation of artificial corneas (keratoprostheses) and intraocular lens optics and the effects of scattered light. We also have an interest in how visual performance changes as a result of ‘normal‘aging, congenital colour deficiency and disease including the effects of blue light on the eye.
The group has developed novel Advanced Vision and Optometric Tests designed to enable accurate measurements of several aspects of vision that are considered important for particular occupations. For example the Colour Assessment and Diagnosis (CAD) test, developed by the group, is currently used throughout the world to assess pilots, firefighters, seafarers, police officers and air traffic controllers. The work of the group is has also led to changes in the minimum vision requirements for a number of occupations.
Advanced Vision and Optometric Tests
Research Group
People
Members
- Professor John Lawrenson (Centre Lead), Professor of Clinical Visual Science
- Professor John Barbur, Optics Chair
- Dr Alison Binns, Senior Lecturer
- Dr Tamsin Callaghan, Lecturer
- Dr Peter Campbell, Lecturer
- Professor David Crabb, Professor of Statistics and Vision Research
- Dr Irene Ctori, Divisional Lead of Optometry and Visual Sciences
- Professor Ronald Douglas
- Dr Simon Grant, Associate Professor/Reader
- Professor Chris Hull, Professor of Optics
- Dr Byki Huntjens, Senior Lecturer
- Dr Peter Jones, Lecturer
- Professor Michael Morgan, Professor of Neuroscience
- Dr Michael Powner, Senior Lecturer
- Louise Prothero, Research Fellow
- Dr Marisa Rodriguez-Carmona, Lecturer
- Dr Rakhee Shah, Lecturer
- Professor Joshua Solomon, Professor of Visual Psychophysics
- Dr Ahalya Subramanian, Senior Lecturer
- Dr Catherine Suttle, Senior Lecturer
- Dr Deanna Taylor, Lecturer
- Professor Christopher Tyler, Professor of Visual Science
Affiliated Members
- Dr Miriam Conway, Senior Lecturer
- Professor David Edgar, Emeritus Professor
- Alistair Fielder, Emeritus Professor
PhD Students
- Salma Ahmad
- Qais Bastaki
- Rebecca Chakram
- Paul Cowie
- Sonali Dave
- Rohit Dhakal
- Vijay Reena Durai
- Laura Edwards
- Benjamin Evans
- Bethany Higgins
- Angharad Hobby
- Stephen Kelly
- Janus Keuken
- Preetam Kumar
- Bhagya Marella
- Kristina Mihić
- Giovanni Montesano
- James Sadler
The Applied Vision Research Centre aims to develop, promote and carry out research that spans laboratory-based fundamental studies in vision to translational applied vision research. The Centre continues to bring together a multidisciplinary scientific and clinical team with expertise in the field of vision and eye care. It currently comprises 31 academic staff and 22 PhD students organised into five research groups with the Ophthalmic Public Health group as an affiliated member. Since 2008, the Centre has been engaged in current and recent projects to the value of over £10 million from a variety of sources including research councils, charities, government and industry. Outputs from the past five years include 240 peer reviewed publications, several patents and influential reviews and reports with impact on clinical practice, healthcare and occupational vision standards.
Ongoing collaborative projects exploit existing skills and expertise within the Centre and several fundamental findings in optics and visual psychophysics have now found practical applications. Notable are the impacts achieved in glaucoma service delivery, establishment of vision standards within occupational environments and advanced vision tests for healthcare. Research interests and ongoing projects remain diverse and there is considerable integration and collaboration within the School of Health Sciences, institution-wide and externally, both with industry and other universities in the United Kingdom (UK) and abroad.
Find out more about the Centre’s Advanced Vision and Optometric Tests (AVOT) produced with support from industry and research councils
The Centre comprises six research groups:
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