ARC Centre of Excellence - Vision Science. This Centre will generate important new knowledge of the performance, logic and stability of vision and visual behaviour. This knowledge will help reduce the burden of vision impairment in Australia, increasing productivity, promoting healthy ageing and reducing the community costs of visual impairment (ca. $9.85 billion in 2004). The knowledge produced will also make possible world-class innovations in robotics, leading to novel automated vision system ....ARC Centre of Excellence - Vision Science. This Centre will generate important new knowledge of the performance, logic and stability of vision and visual behaviour. This knowledge will help reduce the burden of vision impairment in Australia, increasing productivity, promoting healthy ageing and reducing the community costs of visual impairment (ca. $9.85 billion in 2004). The knowledge produced will also make possible world-class innovations in robotics, leading to novel automated vision systems with applications in industry and national security. Other knowledge will develop novel diagnostic technologies, for application in health delivery.Read moreRead less
Understanding lens aging: the molecular basis of presbyopia. Ageing has major consequences in the deterioration of vision, notably, the inability to focus on near objects. The understanding gained through this study of age-related lens changes may allow us to prescribe drugs or diets that alter lens properties and thus delay the need for glasses. This would have great benefits not just in decreased inconvenience of users, but also in cost to the middle-aged and elderly. In addition, data will b ....Understanding lens aging: the molecular basis of presbyopia. Ageing has major consequences in the deterioration of vision, notably, the inability to focus on near objects. The understanding gained through this study of age-related lens changes may allow us to prescribe drugs or diets that alter lens properties and thus delay the need for glasses. This would have great benefits not just in decreased inconvenience of users, but also in cost to the middle-aged and elderly. In addition, data will be used to underpin the development of a flexible intraocular lens (IOL). Hard IOLs are routinely inserted into human eyes following cataract surgery. In the future, flexible IOLs based on the properties of young lenses will be used, rather than reading glasses. This new industry could be based in Australia.Read moreRead less
Investigation of the structure of the pre-ocular tear film. Eye care is critical to the elderly e.g. over 50% can expect to suffer from dry-eye which inhibits productivity and independence. Eye-drops are often used for treatment and development of drops will improve the well-being and productivity of the elderly. Formulation of eye-drops is complex because they must be comfortable, easy to use, and preserve the active agent. Better formulations will benefit people both medically and financially. ....Investigation of the structure of the pre-ocular tear film. Eye care is critical to the elderly e.g. over 50% can expect to suffer from dry-eye which inhibits productivity and independence. Eye-drops are often used for treatment and development of drops will improve the well-being and productivity of the elderly. Formulation of eye-drops is complex because they must be comfortable, easy to use, and preserve the active agent. Better formulations will benefit people both medically and financially. It will lead to more compliance, and thus maintain the independence of and productivity of older people. This will increase the market share and the financial gains will be fed back to the community. This project will also train scientists in industrial production and marketing.Read moreRead less
An Electro-Neural Vision System for the Blind. This project is aimed at the development of a device that can provide blind people with limited visual perception of the environment (i.e. alternative vision) via the use of miniature stereo video cameras, laser range sensors, vision processing equipment and electrodes placed on the surface of the skin for delivering the visual information to the brain.