Surgical Research

A randomised, single centre study of the equivalence of two intraocular lenses (IOLs) used in cataract surgery

To assess the safety and efficacy of the two IOL's (Alcon IOL and Tecsoft IOL) in human eyes for the treatment.

A comparative clinical trial of alcohol delamination versus phototherapeutic keratectomy for the treatment of recurrent corneal erosions

To investigate the clinical efficacy of alcohol delamination versus phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) for the treatment of traumatic recurrent corne.

Determinates of informed consent. Why do patients enter a clinical trial?

This study seeks to understand why patients choose or decline to participate in clinical trials and what the determinants of a patient's participation in a clinical trial are.

A prospective, randomised, clinical trial of corneal collagen crosslinking in keratoconus

To evaluate the clinical usefulness and efficacy of collagen cross-linking in people with progressive keratoconus and to confirm its safety profile. We are also investigating the effects of the treatment on corneal microstructure and keratocytes, thickness, curvature and the accuracy of tonometric measurements.

Reasons for admission to the corneal unit in patients with Down syndrome in a tertiary care hospital

A retrospective analysis of hospital records or patients who had Down syndrome and microbial keratitis, evaluating clinical and microbiological profile and final outcome.

Microbiological and clinical profile of cases of microbial keratitis residing in nursing homes

A retrospective analysis of hospital records of patients who had microbial keratitis, and were living in nursing homes evaluating clinical and microbiological profile and final visual outcome.

Intrastromal and subconjunctival Bevacizumab for the treatment of corneal neovascularisation

To evaluate the efficacy of intrastromal Bevacizumab in the treatment of corneal neovascularisation. To compare the efficacy and safety of intrastromal and subconjunctival injections of Bevacizumab for cases of corneal neovascularisation.

Fluidic stability testing of phacoemulsification equipment - phaco console study

To undertake side by side performance comparisons of currently available phaco consoles under a simulated "post occlusion surge" triggering event. This event was triggered by a test harness with a simulated eye chamber and data capture capabilities.

Endothelial cell culture for transplantation matrices to support differentiation and transfer of corneal endothelial cells

We have shown that we can grow corneal endothelial cells on a new matrix called Myogel, after expansion on tissue culture plastic, we aim to expand the procedure to analyse the state of differentiation and proliferation of corneal endothelial cells on different Myogel formulations and assess their transfer into recipient sheep. Successful grants will eventually undergo workup into human clinical treatments.

Development of plasma coated contact lens delivery system for transplantation of limbal stem cells

To produce a surface modified therapeutic contact lens for the culture and delivery of corneal epithelial cells under serum-free conditions for treating blinding ocular surface diseases. To conduct "proof of concept" clinical trials of this cell therapy technique of corneal epithelial transplantation using amniotic membranes.

Clinical review of corneal ulcers resulting in evisceration and enucleation

To identify risk factors for corneal ulcers and study the clinical and microbiological characteristics of corneal ulcers resulting in evisceration and enucleation in a tertiary care hospital. A review of all patients who required evisceration or enucleation due to microbial keratitis at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne was performed.

Outcomes of unilateral penetrating keratoplasty in cases with normal fellow eyes

To assess the visual outcome of unilateral penetrating keratoplasties (PKP) in a heterogenous group of corneal disorders in cases with normal fellow eye. A retrospective review of 498 consecutive eyes that underwent PKP at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital iincluded all cases with a history of one or more corneal transplantation surgery in one eye and a BCVA > 6/12 in the fellow eye. The main outcome measures were indications for corneal graft, best-corrected visual acuity at 24 months and overall graft survival.