Corneal Research

The current streams of corneal research include evaluation of new and optimal therapies for management of ulcerative keratitis, ocular surface disorders, and corneal transplant rejection. A project has been initiated to evaluate the clinical efficacy of Riboflavin/UVA treatment in people with progressive keratoconus and to confirm the safety profile of this treatment. The benefits to keratoconus patients, if the treatment is proven to be effective, will be enabling better long-term vision without the need for corneal transplant surgery.

There is an ongoing evaluation of excimer laser surgical procedures for the correction of refractive errors and in the management of corneal diseases.

Another major area of focus is on sociological health services and project evaluation studies designed to improve eye donation awareness and rates in Australia. In future, the department aims to expand laboratory and clinical based research in areas of ocular surface stem cells, keratoprosthesis and customized component corneal transplantation surgeries.