Dr Lee McIlreavy

Lecturer

School of Optometry and Vision Sciences

: mcilreavyl@cardiff.ac.uk
: +44(0)29 208 70134
: Room 3.01, Optometry and Vision Sciences, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ

: Available for postgraduate supervision

I conduct basic research, using eye tracking and computer-based tasks, to investigate visual function and motion perception resulting from normal and abnormal development of the human visual system.

All visual input must be processed by the retinas before transmission to the visual cortex of the brain. However, eye movements are constantly directing the retinas to different objects in the environment. Yet, despite this incessant motion of the retinae, the environment is usually perceived as stationary.

A number of neuro-ophthamic conditions can produce continuous, pathological oscillations of the eyes (a sign called nystagmus) that may or may not result in an illusory motion of the environment (a symptom called oscillopsia).

The objective of my current research is to relate eye movements to measures of visual function and motion perception, in those with and without nystagmus, in an effort to better understand the perception of stationarity, oscillopsia and the consequences of inappropriate motion of the eyes

Undergraduate education

2004-2007 BSc (Hons) Optometry, Ulster University

Postgraduate education

2012-2015 PhD (Vision Sciences), Cardiff University, supervised by Professor Jonathan T. Erichsen (School of Optometry and Vision Sciences) and Professor Tom C.A. Freeman (School of Psychology)

Professional memberships

Registered with the General Optical Council (GOC)
Member of the College of Optometrists (MCOptom)
Member of the Association of Optometrists (AOP)
Member of the Applied Vision Association (AVA)
Member of the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB)
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Academic positions

2015 - present: Lecturer, Cardiff University
2012 - 2015: Postgratuate clinical demonstrator, Cardiff University
2008 - 2010: Research fellow with Professor Peter Bex, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
2007 - 2008: Pre-registration optometrist, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London

Speaking engagements

2018: British Ocular Motor Group (Cardiff, UK), "Involuntary eye movements and their coordination"
2015: American Nystagmus Network (New Orleans, USA), "Two dimensional pursuit in infantile nystagmus"

Public engagement

2012 - present: Nystagmus Network Open Day, School of Optometry, Cardiff University / Nystagmus Network. Presentation of current nystagmus research at the School of Optometry and answering questions on aspects of nystagmus including waveform, associated conditions and visual functioning
2013 - present: Science in Health Live, School of Medicine, Cardiff University / University Hospital of Wales. Demonstration to introduce high school students to the function of eye movements and how they are recorded in the course of basic research and clinical diagnosis
2013 - present: Brain Games, Cardiff School of Psychology, Cardiff University / Wellcome Trust. Demonstration of a series of visual illusions aimed at children aged 8-11 to find out more about how their brain works

2022

Nedelchev, V., Ennis, F., Bex, P. and McIlreavy, L. 2022. Novel fixation target promotes more accurate fixation: initial proof-of-concept. Presented at: 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, USA, 01-04 May 2022, Vol. 63. Vol. 7. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology pp. 2769-2769.
McIlreavy, L., Nedelchev, V. and Ennis, F. 2022. Two-dimensional eye velocity distributions of foveal fixation at different gaze angles. Presented at: 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, USA, 01-04 May 2022, Vol. 63. Vol. 7. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology pp. 2774.
Rennie, K. et al. 2022. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals with nystagmus and an exploration of public assumptions about the condition: an electronic questionnaire study. BMC Ophthalmology 22, article number: 268. (10.1186/s12886-022-02484-x)
Zahidi, A. A. A., McIlreavy, L., Erichsen, J. and Woodhouse, J. M. 2022. Visual and refractive status of children with Down's syndrome and nystagmus. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 63(2), article number: 28. (10.1167/iovs.63.2.28)

2021

Amiebenomo, O., McIlreavy, L., Erichsen, J. and Woodhouse, J. 2021. Effect of viewing distance on fixation characteristics in typical observers. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 62(8), pp. 3334-3334.

2020

McIlreavy, L., Freeman, T. and Erichsen, J. 2020. Two-dimensional analysis of horizontal and vertical pursuit in infantile nystagmus reveals quantitative deficits in accuracy and precision. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 61(6), article number: 15. (10.1167/iovs.61.6.15)
Amiebenomo, O. M., McIlreavy, L., Erichsen, J. T. and Woodhouse, J. M. 2020. The potential off-axis performance and accuracy of the PowerRef 3 for measurements in nystagmus. Presented at: AVA Christmas Meeting, Cardiff, Wales, UK, 16 Dec 2019. Vol. 49(6). Sage pp. 707-708.
Self, J. E. et al. 2020. Management of nystagmus in children: A review of the literature and current practice in UK specialist services. Eye (10.1038/s41433-019-0741-3)

2019

Dunn, M. J., Harris, C. M., Ennis, F. A., Margrain, T. H., Woodhouse, J. M., McIlreavy, L. and Erichsen, J. T. 2019. An automated segmentation approach to calibrating infantile nystagmus waveforms. Behavior Research Methods 51(5), pp. 2074-2084. (10.3758/s13428-018-1178-5)
McIlreavy, L., Freeman, T. C. A. and Erichsen, J. T. 2019. Two-dimensional analysis of smooth pursuit eye movements reveals quantitative deficits in precision and accuracy. Translational Vision Science & Technology 8(5), article number: 7. (10.1167/tvst.8.5.7)
Clark, R. et al. 2019. The potential and value of objective eye tracking in the ophthalmology clinic. Eye 33, pp. 1200-1202. (10.1038/s41433-019-0417-z)

2017

Erichsen, J. T., Dillingham, C., Dix, K., McIlreavy, L., Barnes, J. and Meydan, T. 2017. Using the optocollic response to determine visual perception in the homing pigeon (Columba livia) [Abstract]. Perception 46(10), pp. 1230-1231. (10.1177/0301006617710756)
Dunn, M., McIlreavy, L. and Erichsen, J. 2017. The Nystagmus null zone: evidence for contributions from each eye. Perception 46(10), pp. 1224-1225.

2016

McIlreavy, L. 2016. Fixational and pursuit eye movements in infantile nystagmus: oculomotor control and perception. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.

2015

McIlreavy, L., Freeman, T. and Erichsen, J. 2015. Two dimensional analysis of horizontal and vertical pursuit performance in infantile nystagmus. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 56(7), pp. 2914-2914.

2012

McIlreavy, L., Fiser, J. and Bex, P. J. 2012. Impact of Simulated Central Scotomas on Visual Search in Natural Scenes. Optometry and Vision Science 89(9), pp. 1385-1394. (10.1097/OPX.0b013e318267a914)

2009

McIlreavy, L., Fiser, J. and Bex, P. 2009. Visual field loss, eye movements and visual search. Journal of Vision 9(8), article number: 1210. (10.1167/9.8.1210)

2008

Beirne, R. O., McIlreavy, L. and Zlatkova, M. B. 2008. The effect of age-related lens yellowing on Farnsworth-Munsell 100 hue error score. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics 28(5), pp. 448-456. (10.1111/j.1475-1313.2008.00593.x)

Current undergraduate teaching

OP0204 Optometric physics (Lecturer)
OP1202 Optometric dispensing and appliances (Module leader)
OP2201 Clinical studies and dispensing (Lecturer)
OP3205 Occupational optometry, law and business (Lecturer)
OP3107 Research in optometry and vision science (Project supervisor)

Current postgraduate teaching

WOPEC refraction certificate for ophthalmologists (Lecturer)

Previous undergraduate teaching

OP2204 Binocular vision and optometric neurophysiology (Practical teaching)

Research Groups

Research Unit for Nystagmus (OPTOM)
Down's Syndrome Vision Research Unit (OPTOM)
Perception & Action (PSYCH)

Funding

2021: JT Erichsen, L Mcilreavy, MJ Dunn, JM Woodhouse, £4,000 “Development of an eye tracking system for assessment in the home", Nystagmus Network

2020: L Mcilreavy, £2,351 “Novel fixation stimuli to aid fixation performance over an extended duration", Cardiff Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (CUROP)

2019: L Mcilreavy, JT Erichsen, £30,000 “Oculomotor control and visual perception during pursuit eye movements in the presence infantile nystagmus”, IN-vision UK

2019: JT Erichsen, RG Wise, MJ Dunn, L Mcilreavy, PhD studentship, "Infantile nystagmus: Exploring the causes and establishing better measures of visual performance”, College of Optometrists UK

2019: R Paterson, L Mcilreavy, J Cable, £2,500, "Out of sight: do eye flukes alter predator-prey interactions?", NERC/GW4 FRESH CDT Research Experience Placement

2019: MJ Dunn, L Mcilreavy, T Redmond, £2,258, "Investigating the role of perceived depth on visual crowding”, Cardiff Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (CUROP)

2019: KJ Peall, L Mcilreavy, PhD studentship, "Use of technological platforms to enhance phenotypic understanding in primary dystonia", KESS2/Aparito

2018: L Mcilreavy, £36,130, "Spectacle lens wearer test – subjective assessment of two types of lens", Essilor International,

2018: KJ Peall, L Mcilreavy, £15,000, "A comprehensive assessment of motor and non-motor symptoms in primary blepharospasm to aid stratification of disorder phenotypes", Fight for Sight / The Dystonia Society joint small grant award

2017: KJ Peall, L Mcilreavy, MJ Dunn, JT Erichsen, £5,000, "Characterisation of ocular motor function in adult-onset cervical dystonia", Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute (NMHRI) Seed Corn Funding

2017: L Mcilreavy, £11,015, "Diagnosing infantile nystagmus: A novel eye tracking approach", Fight for Sight / Nystagmus Network joint small grant award

2016: L Mcilreavy, £18,550, "Perceptual 'windows' in the presence of involuntary eye movement", College of Optometrists UK Research Fellowship

2016: L Mcilreavy, £1,600, "A low cost tool to aid diagnosis of eye movement disorders", Cardiff Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (CUROP)

2015: L Mcilreavy, £1,600, "Fixation performance over an extended duration: development of novel fixation stimuli for clinical use", Cardiff Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (CUROP)

2013: JT Erichsen, TCA Freeman, L Mcilreavy, £14,350, "Understanding the oscillopsia in nystagmus to provide a basis for treatment", Fight for Sight / Nystagmus Network joint small grant award

Current supervision

Past projects

2022: Viktor Valentinov Nedelchev, MPhil thesis, "Visual perception and oculomotor control during pursuit eye movements"
2019: Asma Ahida Binti Ahmad Zahidi, PhD thesis, "Characteristics and impact of nystagmus on children with and without Down’s syndrome"
2017: Joëlle Joss, MSc thesis, "Timing of eye blinks during provoked optokinetic nystagmus"