- Sensory Processing - we use psychophysics to understand sensory information processing by the cornea and conjunctiva of the ocular surface. Detection and discrimination thresholds are estimated using standard methods and suprathresohold processing is examined using scaling techniques.
- Pneumatic Esthesiometry - we are currently examining existing techniques and developing new ways of examining the sensitivity of the surface of the eye. The primary focus of this and the previous project is to stimulate the pain, touch and thermal sensors on the eye's surface, using air at different temperatures, flow rates and carbon dioxide content, so that we can develop an understanding of fundamental sensory processing on the ocular surface in humans.
- Ocular surface imaging - we use a variety of imaging modalities to examine the topography and other morphometric aspects of the cornea, conjunctiva and tear film. Ultra high resolution OCT is used and cross calibration and comparisons among morphometric techniques is a priority.
- Redness and blood flow - we are using photometric and chromatic techniques to characterise ocular surface redness, in order to demonstrate its clinical utility as well as utilise objective metrics in understanding ocular surface vasoregulation.
- Clinical Techniques - we are using novel (typically digital) methods to validate and perhaps replace clinical techniques. In addition, we are trying to understand how student's develop clinical skills with the intention of developing novel clinical teaching techniques.
- Cinical Scaling - we are using traditional techniques and devloping novel methods to scale the subjective values assigned by individuals to complex
- subjective sensations
- vision and pain
- Clinical Appearance - these are judgements made by clinicians about quantifying how the eye appears to them. We are focused on
- novel grading scales and scale accuracy
- image processing to objectively characterise appearance, currently focusing on bulbar & tarsal conjunctiva.
- Rasch & Mokken Analysis of grading scales
- Vision - we are using traditional techniques and developing a number of novel ways to assess clinically relevant vision including,
- dynamic vision
- suppression of blur - what happens when 1 eye is defocused and the other is not?
- Clinical judgement - can we make 'fast' accurate clinical decisions?