Projects Archive

Paediatric orbital cellulitis is a serious condition with significant morbidity and mortality. Corticosteroids may reduce soft tissue inflammation and hasten clinical recovery. However, it may also mask or facilitate progression of infection. It remains unclear if corticosteroids should be used for orbital cellulitis and it has not become standard of care. Our study will be the first randomised controlled trial worldwide to determine the role of corticosteroids in orbital cellulitis in reducing complications and length of hospitalisation. We will conduct a multi-centre double-blinded randomised controlled trial in children. Enrolled participants will be randomised to receive either intravenous dexamethasone or placebo (normal saline). Primarily, we will determine if corticosteroids will shorten the duration of hospital admission time. Secondary outcomes to be assessed will be the number of surgical interventions required and visual outcomes. Follow-up time will be 6 months.

The choroid is a structure at the back of the eyes that supplies nutrients to our light-sensitive cells. Changes to the choroid have been noted in people with short-sightedness or potentially-blinding conditions such as macular degeneration. By identifying the genes responsible for changes in the choroid, my research will determine whether these changes directly lead to these eye conditions. This will enable future development of new treatments for these choroid-related disorders.

Analysis of carotid artery function using ultrasound, and retinal circulation using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), will determine whether subjects with early diabetic retinopathy are more likely to develop carotid disease and vice versa.

The utility of retinal perfusion scans in children with type 1 diabetes will be evaluated as an early indicator of vascular change. Early prediction of vascular changes would allow timely interventions to decrease retinal damage in type 1 diabetes.

This project, “Comprehensive Care for People with Stickler's Syndrome” aims to develop a model of care appropriate to the Australian context. Stickler's Syndrome is associated with retinal detachments in children, that may result in blindness.

Pre-operative anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) and post-operative histology will be compared in patients with clinically suspected ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN). The OCT features that provide the most useful prognostic information will be determined.

An educational grant to the Royal Australasian College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) supports visiting lecturers, training materials, and clinical conferences to which the eye care community are invited.

A program to develop a novel gene editing and delivery system for correcting inherited retinal diseases.