School of Optometry and Vision Sciences

Research Interests

I am a member of the Contact Lens and Anterior Eye Research (CLAER) Unit and my main areas of interest involve analysis of the tear film and ocular surface.  I have recently completed a PhD entitled “Cystic Fibrosis and the Eye” which investigated visual function, the ocular surface and tear film characteristics in children and adults with Cystic Fibrosis (CF).  An autosomal recessive disease, CF is currently the most common inherited, fatal disease in the caucasian population.  CF is caused by a defective epithelial membrane channel known as Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR).  More recently CFTR has been discovered in a number of ocular epithelia.  CF is further complicated by vitamin A deficiency and Cystic Fibrosis-Related Diabetes.  My research has investigated how CFTR and secondary disease characteristics affect the eye and vision in subjects with CF.  Due to modern disease management and therapeutic treatment CF survival rates are steadily increasing.  Healthcare practitioners, such as optometrists, are more likely to encounter CF patients therefore a detailed understanding of how CF affects the eyes is imperative.