School of Optometry and Vision Sciences

Research Interests

I am a Director of the Contact Lens and Anterior Eye Research Unit (CLAER), which includes members of staff from different disciplines within the School and several postgraduate researchers. The CLAER Unit has its own laboratories and clinical facility plus access to a wider range of facilities that include cell culture, protein assay and analysis, and microscopy.

My research interests centre on the ocular surface and tear film: particularly the effects of contact lens wear, cosmetics and ocular cross-infection. Many of our projects in CLAER have focused on the development and application of new clinical tests for the tear film.

I have used infrared thermal imaging extensively to look at the thermal profile across the ocular surface during blinking and contact lens wear. An investigation into the effect of contact lens wear on ocular surface temperature was awarded the ‘Da Vinci’ prize from the British Contact lens Association (BCLA), and in 2007 I was invited to give the Irving Fatt Memorial Award Keynote lecture in recognition of outstanding contribution to the field of contact lenses and anterior eye.

Most recently, my interests have centred on inflammatory markers within tear film samples, and migration of products across the lid margin into the tear film. I am also interested in assessing the in vivo performance of different contact lens materials and designs within our clinical research facilities, both with rigid and soft contact lenses, and relating such findings to developmental research in materials.

As an optometrist, I am also interested in assessment of visual function in children and adults, particularly with respect to evidence-based care. This compliments the passion I have for research-led teaching and making sure what we do as optometrists has solid foundations.