1.1 The Trust's investment in the Optometry Department in the area of low vision research parallels the appointment of Professor Gary Rubin and has resulted in a fruitful collaboration in rehabilitation and low vision research. This matches other clinical and research expertise in the Trust and Institute that gives us the ability to address these issues at the highest level. Expertise with the scanning laser ophthalmoscope and its use, together with psychophysical techniques for the identification of functional elements in the damaged retina, will support this strategy. Research activity will focus on the low vision psychophysics laboratory, a vision impairment population laboratory and a clinical low vision research laboratory.
The following projects have been funded by non-commercial external organisations:

1.1.1 Project funded by the Macular Disease Society on binocular eye movements and eccentric fixation in age-related macular degeneration. The goal of this study is to find out how people with advanced AMD use their side vision and move their eyes during everyday tasks. Information from this research will help guide the assessment of new rehabilitation strategies and the development of new high-tech low vision devices, which can enhance binocular viewing. We expect that these devices will improve the performance of everyday tasks and lead to a better quality of life for people with advanced AMD.

1.1.2 Project funded by the Macular Disease Society on the benefits of new high tech low vision devices. We have undertaken a study to evaluate four new low vision devices and to determine its clinical application, effectiveness and importance within the UK low vision services system. The resultant information will inform both low vision practitioners and individuals with sight problems.

1.1.3 Project funded by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association on the adaptation of eye movements in patients newly diagnosed with macular degeneration. This study aims to document changes in eye movements at the beginning of the clinical manifestations and through the early years of the disease process, both in old and young people.

1.1.4 Project funded by the European Commission, on fundus autofluorescence and visual function in patients with age-related macular degeneration. This project uses a specially modified SLO to measure the build up of lipofuscin to determine whether this is related to visual function abnormalities in patients with early macular degeneration.

1.1.5 Project funded by the European Commission to develop new methods for assessment and optimisation of visual function in patients with AMD. This project will develop new standards for reading assessment to be used in low vision clinics throughout Europe. In conjunction with our commercial partner, Sensori-Motoric Instruments in Germany, we will develop standardized software for eye movement assessment to evaluate fixation stability and reading eye movements in patients with advanced AMD.

1.1.6 Project funded by the MRC, on developmental anomalies of human spatial vision. This project will investigate the full extent of visual dysfunction in human amblyopia and the effects of occlusion therapy. The study will examine the efficacy of occlusion therapy, help to define more accurately when the end-point of treatment has been reached, and will have important implications for our understanding of normal and abnormal visual development