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
2019
- Dunn, M.et al. 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. and Erichsen, J. 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.et al. 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)
2016
- McIlreavy, L. 2016. Fixational and pursuit eye movements in infantile nystagmus: oculomotor control and perception. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
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)
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
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
- 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"