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Ophthalmology

Unit Head & Supervisor: Associate Professor Ian Favilla
Telephone: 9548 7500

  • Analysis of Tear Protein Profiles with Capillary Electrophoresis
    “Dry eyes” are the most common cause of ocular inflammation in the elderly. A normal pre-corneal tear film is important for maintaining the integrity of the ocular surface and any abnormality of its composition may lead to dry eyes and structural abnormalities. Tear proteins consist of antibacterial products, immunoglobulins and growth factors and are essential for corneal healing. Capillary electrophoresis is a new technique, which can be used to measure and identify variations in the small concentrations of proteins in tears. The validity and potential application of this new technique will be investigated in tear samples collected from a clinical population.
  • Effects of Diabetes on Gene Expression in the Retina
    The early pathogenic events occurring in the diabetic retina that result in the development of retinopathy are poorly understood. This study will examine gene expression in rat and mouse models of early diabetes with microarray techniques to investigate the molecular events in the early stages of the diabetic retina.
  • The Role of Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Gpx-1 in Protecting the Retina from Light Drainage
    Light and oxygen are absolute requirements for vision. Pradoxically these laments are also implicated in long-term damage to the retina. While pigmentation is known to be involved in protecting the retina from light damage, the role of anti-oxidant enzymes is poorly understood. In this study the role of the anti-oxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GPx-1) in protecting retinal function and structure from light damage will be examined in a knock-out mouse (GPx-1) model.