Characterising the changes in regulation of visual contrast sensitivity in glaucoma. [ 2005 - 2007 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Prof Allison Mckendrick (Principal investigator) ,  Prof Chris Johnson ,  Prof David Badcock

Brief description Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in developed nations. A recent study estimated the number of Australian's that will need regular visual examination in 2030 either because they have glaucoma or glaucomatous risk factors to be at least 800,000. As the ultimate aim of glaucoma treatment is to maintain vision, visual functional assessment is of paramount importance to glaucoma management . The current standard measure for the assessment of visual loss due to glaucoma is visual field testing. Regrettably, substantial damage to retinal ganglion cells (the primary neurons affected by glaucoma) is often present prior to the discovery of visual field loss using standard measures. Indeed studies have demonstrated that even 30-50% retinal ganglion cell loss may only manifest as a mild visual field deficit using current standard testing. This project will use novel techniques for exploring sight impairment in glaucoma, enabling a better understanding of the underlying neural damage. Our pilot work demonstrates that these methods can detect loss of sight in areas diagnosed as normal using standard visual field testing. The study will provide new technologies for the assessment of early vision loss due to glaucoma that may enable the detection of malfunction of retinal ganglion cells prior to their death. Such measures of neural malfunction are essential to establishing the efficacy of new pharmacological therapies (known as neuroprotective agents) for glaucoma aimed at keeping retinal ganglion cells alive and functioning. This project also has the potential to identify visual measures that have better capability for monitoring the progression of vision loss due to glaucoma. Early detection of glaucoma and its progression is essential so that treatment can be initiated or altered, slowing the progression of vision loss and its toll on both the individual and the community.

Funding Amount $AUD 337,600.00

Funding Scheme NHMRC Project Grants

Notes Standard Project Grant