Ophthalmology and Orthoptics Research

We carry out theoretical and applied research to understand many aspects of the visual system and improve patient management. Our work includes contributing to national guidelines, policies and care pathways.

Our research themes

We have strong multi-professional links within the University of Sheffield, other universities and external organisations. Our collaborators include psychologists, clinicians, medical physicist and others. Our research has been structured into four themes.

Orthoptics researchers

Accommodation & Physiological Optics

Research within the Unit has explored the optics of prisms and the effect of Fresnel prisms on uniocular and binocular visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and colour vision. The effects in mesopic and photopic conditions have been compared.

Accommodation and Physiological Optics

Teaching in Orthoptics.

Assessment of Vision and Eye Movement

The goal of the Sheffield eye movement lab is to have a positive impact on the lives of individuals with nystagmus and other eye movement disorders.

Assessment of Vision and Eye Movement

Orthoptics equipment.

Binocular Vision

Many aspects of stereopsis and clinical testing have been investigated including the response to different stimuli, the effect of vergence adaptation and anisometropia. Further work will explore how the presence of nystagmus impacts on stereoacuity.

Binocular Vision

Stereoscopic vision test.

Visual Perception and Sensory Adaptation

We have shown that deaf adults have much superior performance to visual stimuli presented in the periphery and that this ability develops during childhood, reaching adult levels after the age of about 11 years.

Visual Perception and Sensory Adaptation