Glasgow Caledonian University -PhD Research Project Opportunity

Please note that as this project is not funded by a University studentship, the successful candidate will be required to source external funding for the research degree fees and living expenses while studying at the university.

Project Reference number / 2014SHLS039
School/Institute/Research group / School of Health and Life Sciences
Institute for Applied Health Research
Applied vision research : Research Group: Oculomotor and Refractive Development
Research Discipline areas / ·  Optometry
·  Eye conditions/disorders
·  Refractive error development
·  Visual optics
Research Theme / ·  Oculomotor and Refractive Development
Project Title / An investigation of pupil responses in emmetropia and ametropia
Research Project Area / It is well established that changes in accommodation response level are closely associated with concurrent changes in pupil size. While it has been shown that the magnitude of the pupil response changes linearly with that of the accommodative response, the amount of pupil change per dioptre of refractive change varies greatly with the amplitude of the refractive change and between individuals.
Individual differences in the pupillary near response are of interest due to recent attempts to reduce the progression of myopia with orthokeratology and multifocal contact lenses. Previous reports have shown no relationship between pupil size and refractive error during steady-state viewing. Pilot data of dynamic recordings of pupil size to step-wise changes in target vergence have revealed that some subjects show pupil dilation during far-near accommodation step changes and constriction during near- far changes and that this may be related to their refractive status. Although the results of previous studies suggest that accommodation is not sufficient to drive the pupil near response and that the presence of other cues is required, these have not been conclusively investigated.
Aims and outcomes of the proposed project are:
·  To quantify the effect of proximal and disparity cues on the near pupil response
·  To establish the luminance threshold required to override the near pupil response
·  To assess dynamically the pupil response to sinusoidal and step wise changes in target vergence and disparity and to quantify fatigue/adaptation effects after prolonged viewing for different refractive groups
·  The outcome of the project will have implications for the design of contact lenses used for myopia control
Supervisory Team / Dr Dirk Seidel, Director of Studies (IAHR/SHLS)
Dr Mhairi Day, 2nd Supervisor (IAHR/SHLS)
Dr Lyle S Gray, 3rd Supervisor (IAHR/SHLS)
Staff Contact / Dr Dirk Seidel, Department of Life Sciences

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