Dr Matt J Dunn
Lecturer, Deputy Director of Postgraduate Research
School of Optometry and Vision Sciences
- dunnmj1@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44(0)29 208 70576
- Room 2.12, Optometry and Vision Sciences, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ
- Media commentator
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
Research in my lab is focused on exposing the mechanisms underlying disorders of visual perception – including blindsight, Charles Bonnet Syndrome (hallucinations), visual dyslexia and infantile nystagmus. In particular, I am interested in the role of involuntary eye movements in perceptual (in)stability. My interest in eyetracking extends to the clinical application of eyetrackers in routine eyecare and neurology practice. I am the author of the popular ophthalmology e-textbook Dunn Vision Reference.
We typically recruit patients with orthoptic or perceptual disorders in order to better understand visual physiology. If you have a neurological visual disorder and are interested in taking part in research, please click here for more information.
Biography
Professional memberships
- GOC registered optometrist
- Fellow, Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
- Member of the College of Optometrists (MCOptom)
Academic positions
| 2016 – Present | Lecturer, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University |
| 2014 – 2016 | Research Associate, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University |
| 2013 – 2015 | Teacher, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University |
| 2014 | Research Associate, Department of Neuroscience, Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board |
| 2013 – 2014 | Research Associate, School of Psychology, Cardiff University |
| 2010 – 2013 | Clinical supervisor, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University |
Speaking engagements
Invited talks
| 2020 | Nystagmus Decoded (Madurai, India) – "Eyetracking made simple" (session moderator) |
| 2018 | RNIB Wales (Cardiff, UK) – "Understanding infantile nystagmus" |
| 2017 | Vision 2017 (The Hague, Netherlands) – “’Time to see’ in infantile nystagmus” |
| 2016 | Rank Prize Funds (Grasmere, UK) – “Visual perception in the presence of nystagmus” |
| 2016 | Oxford, Bristol, Cardiff & Southampton Alliance in Vision Research (Cardiff, UK) – “Seeing with nystagmus” |
| 2016 | 100% Optical (London, UK) – “A clinician’s guide to nystagmus” |
| 2015 | Midland Peripatetic Group for Teachers of the Visually Impaired (Birmingham, UK) – "Seeing with nystagmus" |
| 2015 | LV Prasad Eye Institute (Hyderabad, India) – "Visual perception in infantile nystagmus" |
| 2015 | University of California (Berkeley, California, US) – "Visual perception in infantile nystagmus" |
| 2015 | University of Houston (Houston, Texas, US) – "Visual perception in infantile nystagmus" |
| 2015 | Orthoptics Decoded (Madurai, India) – "Orthoptic treatments for nystagmus" (session moderator) / "Supranuclear gaze palsies" |
| 2015 | Nystagmus Network International Research Workshop (New Orleans, Louisiana, US) – "Visual timing in infantile nystagmus" |
| 2015 | ARVO Annual Meeting (Denver, Colorado, US) – "Visual processing in infantile nystagmus is not slow" |
| 2013 | Nystagmus Network International Research Workshop (Abingdon, UK) – "Appropriate measures of visual performance in infantile nystagmus: Acuity is not enough" |
| 2013 | European Conference on Eye Movements (Lund, Sweden) – "Involuntary saccade initiation is related to the timing of voluntary saccades in infantile nystagmus" |
| 2013 | ARVO Annual Meeting (Seattle, Washington, US) – "Visual acuity in infantile nystagmus in the absence of image motion" |
Public engagement and media appearances
I am registered as a STEMnet ambassador, and provide public talks on vision science and perception.
| 2018 | Radio interview (BBC Good Morning Wales) – The importance of early sight tests |
| 2018 | Public lecture (Sunday Assembly, Bristol, UK) – “What we miss” |
| 2017 | Public lecture (Green Gathering, UK) – "Perception, illusions and visual neuroscience" |
| 2016 | Public lecture (Tintern Philosophy Circle, UK), – "How much can we know from our senses?" |
| 2016 | Public lectures (Boomtown Fair & Green Gathering, UK) – “How experience shapes perception: perspectives from visual neuroscience” |
| 2015 | TV news article (BBC Points West) – Mobility and vision in patients following stroke |
| 2015 | TV news article (BBC Wales Today) – Using virtual reality to understand visual guidance of walking |
| 2015 | Public lecture (Green Gathering, UK) – "Neuroscience of visual perception" |
| 2014 | Public lecture (Sunrise Festival, UK) – "Psychophysics and perception" |
Committees and reviewing
Journal reviewer for:
- Journal of Ophthalmology
- Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience
- Behavior Research Methods
- Vision Research
- Eye
- Current Eye Research
- Clinical Ophthalmology
- Therapeutic Advances in Rare Disease
- Optometry and Vision Science
- Strabismus
- Journal of Eye Movement Research
Grant reviewer for:
- Medical Research Council
- Nystagmus Network
Publications
2021
- Cutsuridis, V.et al. 2021. Neural modelling of antisaccade performance of healthy controls and early Huntington's disease patients. Chaos 31, article number: 13121. (10.1063/5.0021584)
- Weaterton, R.et al. 2021. Beyond visual acuity: development of a simple test of the slow-to-see phenomenon in children with infantile nystagmus syndrome. Current Eye Research 46(2), pp. 263-270. (10.1080/02713683.2020.1784438)
2020
- 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.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)
- 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)
- Wells, M.et al. 2019. Residual visual function in cortical vision loss. Optometry Today 59(3), pp. 62-65.
- Huang, J.et al. 2019. An augmented reality sign-reading assistant for users with reduced vision. PLoS ONE 14(1), article number: e0210630. (10.1371/journal.pone.0210630)
- Bowden, J., Whitaker, D. and Dunn, M. J. 2019. The role of peripheral vision in the flashed face distortion effect. Perception 48(1), pp. 93-101. (10.1177/0301006618817419)
2018
- Kinateder, M.et al. 2018. Using an augmented reality device as a distance-based vision aid - promise and limitations. Optometry and Vision Science 95(9), pp. 727-737. (10.1097/OPX.0000000000001232)
- Robinson, D. G.et al. 2018. Low-level night-time light-therapy for age-related macular degeneration: a randomized clinical trial. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 59(11), pp. 4531-4541. (10.1167/iovs.18-24284)
- Dunn, M. J. and Rushton, S. K. 2018. Lateral visual occlusion does not change walking trajectories. Journal of Vision 18(9), article number: 11. (10.1167/18.9.11)
2017
- Dunn, M. 2017. Disorders of perception. Optometry Today 57(11), pp. 64-69.
- Binti Ahmad Zahidi, A.et al. 2017. Infantile nystagmus: an optometrist's perspective. Clinical Optometry 9, pp. 123-131. (10.2147/OPTO.S126214)
- Dunn, M.et al. 2017. The effect of gaze angle on visual acuity in infantile nystagmus. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 58(1), pp. 642-650. (10.1167/iovs.16-20370)
2016
- Dunn, M. 2016. Visual perception in infantile nystagmus. Optometry in Practice 17(1), pp. 19-26.
- Dunn, M. 2016. Clinical assessment of nystagmus. Optometry Today 56(7), pp. 80-85.
- Dunn, M. and Lee, H. 2016. Management of nystagmus. Optometry Today 56(8), pp. 64-68.
2015
- Dunn, M.et al. 2015. Visual processing in infantile nystagmus is not slow. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 56(9), pp. 5094-5101. (10.1167/iovs.15-16977)
- Harrison, J. J.et al. 2015. Quick phases of infantile nystagmus show the saccadic inhibition effect. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 56(3), pp. 1594-1600. (10.1167/iovs.14-15655)
2014
- Dunn, M.et al. 2014. Author response: grating visual acuity in infantile nystagmus in the absence of image motion. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 55(8), pp. 4955-4957. (10.1167/iovs.14-15070)
- Dunn, M. J.et al. 2014. Grating visual acuity in infantile nystagmus in the absence of image motion. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 55(4), pp. 2682-2686. (10.1167/iovs.13-13455)
- Dunn, M. 2014. Quantifying perception and oculomotor instability in infantile nystagmus. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
Teaching
I teach clinical optometry and orthoptics, and have previously delivered the Visual Perception lecture series at Cardiff University. I am recognised as a fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).
Modules currently taught
| OP3207 | Research in Optometry and Vision Science |
| OP2201 | Clinical Studies and Dispensing |
| OP3205 | Occupational Optometry, Law and Business (module leader) |
| OP3104 | Abnormal Ocular Conditions |
| OP3103 | Binocular Vision (clinic lead) |
| OP0205 | Introductory Optometry |
| OPT006 | Paediatric Ophthalmology |
| OPT007 | Eye Care for People with Learning Disabilities |
Modules previously taught
| OP2206 | Colour Vision and Perception (module leader) |
| OP3106 & OP2207 | Visual Perception (module leader) |
| OP2104 | Binocular Vision |
| OP3103 | Primary Eye Care |
| OP2103 | Investigative Techniques |
| Doctoral Academy | MATLAB programming |
Current PhD students (with anticipated completion year)
- 2021: Mason Wells (lead supervisor) – Mapping residual visual function in hemianopia
- 2020: Nikita Thomas (lead supervisor) – Retinal predictors of visual performance in infantile nystagmus
Funding (external only)
| 2020 | MJ Dunn (PI), Teufel C. Investigating a plausible mechanism underlying hallucinations in Charles Bonnet Syndrome. Fight for Sight / Welsh Government | £14,034 |
| 2020 | JT Erichsen, R Wise, MJ Dunn, L McIlreavy. Infantile nystagmus: exploring the causes and establishing better measures of visual performance. College of Optometrists | [Studentship] |
| 2018 | MJ Dunn (PI) [Fellowship]. The role of attention in peripheral vision. College of Optometrists | £28,727 |
| 2018 | MJ Dunn (PI), Shawkat F, Self J. Improving VEP diagnostics in people with nystagmus. Nystagmus Network / Fight for Sight | £6201 |
| 2017 | N Thomas, MJ Dunn, J Acton, JT Erichsen. Additional clinical testing for retinal predictors of visual performance in nystagmus. Nystagmus Network | £1387 |
| 2016 | PL Clatworthy, SK Rushton, MJ Dunn. The effect of visual cognitive impairment due to cerebrovascular disease on walking. North Bristol Trust | £8510 |
| 2016 | MJ Dunn (PI), JH Acton, JT Erichsen. Retinal predictors of visual performance in infantile nystagmus. College of Optometrists | £55,827 |
| 2014 | MJ Dunn (PI). Understanding binocular vision in infantile nystagmus. College of Optometrists | £19,573 |
| 2014 | MJ Dunn (PI) & JT Erichsen. Establishing clinical measures of temporal visual function in infantile nystagmus. Nystagmus Network | £14,552 |
| 2013 | MJ Dunn (PI) & JT Erichsen. Nystagmus analysis software development grant, Nystagmus Network | £1500 |
Supervision
If you are interested in pursuing a PhD with me, please get in touch or click here for more information.
Current supervision
Past projects
- Dr Nikita Thomas (lead supervisor; 2021) Development of a novel gaze-contingent perimeter and assessment of retinal structure in infantile nystagmus
