Research Areas
Advancing Eye Health Through Research, Innovation and Collaboration
The Eyes Do Matter Research Network (EDMRN) is committed to improving vision and eye health through multidisciplinary research that translates scientific discovery into better patient care and public health. Our work spans the entire spectrum of eye health—from disease prevention and early diagnosis to treatment evaluation, health economics, healthcare policy, and implementation science.
By working collaboratively with clinicians, researchers, universities, governments, industry, patient organizations, and communities, we seek to generate evidence that improves eye health outcomes and reduces avoidable blindness both nationally and internationally.
Myopia Prevention and Control
The global rise in childhood myopia represents one of the most significant public health challenges in eye care. Our research investigates strategies to slow myopia progression and reduce the risk of future sight-threatening complications.
Research topics include:
- Myopia epidemiology and risk factors
- Clinical effectiveness of myopia control interventions
- Spectacle lens technologies
- Contact lens interventions
- Pharmaceutical therapies including low-dose atropine
- Environmental and behavioral interventions
- Economic evaluation and affordability of myopia control
- Long-term outcomes of childhood myopia
Diabetic Eye Disease
Diabetic retinopathy remains one of the leading causes of preventable blindness worldwide. EDMRN supports research aimed at improving early detection, screening programs, treatment pathways, and patient outcomes.
Research interests include:
- Population screening programs
- Artificial intelligence for retinal image analysis
- Teleophthalmology
- Health inequalities in diabetic eye care
- Risk prediction modelling
- Patient adherence to screening
- Cost-effectiveness of screening programes
- Public health interventions
Glaucoma Research
Early diagnosis and effective long-term management are essential for preventing irreversible vision loss from glaucoma.
Research areas include:
- Early detection strategies
- Imaging technologies
- Visual field assessment
- Artificial intelligence applications
- Patient-centred care
- Disease progression modelling
- Economic evaluation of glaucoma management
- Quality of life research
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
Research focuses on improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of one of the leading causes of blindness in older adults.
Topics include:
- Early detection
- Lifestyle and nutritional risk factors
- Novel imaging technologies
- Patient outcomes
- Health service delivery
- Treatment adherence
- Cost-effectiveness of anti-VEGF therapies
- Population ageing and eye health
Cataract Services and Visual Rehabilitation
Research seeks to optimize cataract care pathways and improve access to high-quality surgical services.
Areas of interest include:
- Surgical outcomes
- Waiting list management
- Health service efficiency
- Patient-reported outcome measures
- Access to surgery
- Cost-effectiveness analyses
- Visual rehabilitation
- International comparisons of cataract services
Public Health Eye Care and Primary Eye Care
Eye health extends far beyond clinical practice. EDMRN undertakes research that informs public health policy and population-based eye care.
Research includes:
- Prevention of avoidable blindness
- Eye health promotion
- Vision screening programs (both child and adult)
- Health inequalities
- Global eye health
- Indigenous and underserved populations
- School vision programs
- Healthy ageing and vision
Health Economics and Outcomes Research
Understanding the value of eye care interventions is essential for sustainable healthcare systems.
Research themes include:
- Cost-of-illness studies
- Cost-effectiveness analyses
- Budget impact analyses
- Health technology assessment
- Resource utilization
- Productivity losses
- Economic burden of visual impairment
- Affordability of innovative technologies
Artificial Intelligence and Digital Eye Health
Digital innovation has the potential to transform eye care.
Research interests include:
- AI-assisted diagnosis
- Deep learning for retinal imaging
- Clinical decision support
- Telemedicine
- Remote patient monitoring
- Digital screening pathways
- Machine learning prediction models
- Responsible and ethical AI
Vision, Ageing and Healthy Communities
Good vision is fundamental to healthy ageing and independent living.
Research explores:
- Falls prevention
- Driving and visual function
- Dementia and vision
- Social isolation
- Vision rehabilitation
- Functional independence
- Quality of life
- Community eye care models
Clinical Trials and Evidence Synthesis
EDMRN supports the generation and synthesis of high-quality scientific evidence.
Research activities include:
- Randomized controlled trials
- Systematic reviews
- Meta-analyses
- Network meta-analyses
- Real-world evidence studies
- Observational epidemiology
- Registry studies
- Clinical guideline development
Translational Research and Innovation
Our goal is to ensure that scientific discoveries lead to meaningful improvements in patient care.
Research includes:
- Novel diagnostic technologies
- Imaging biomarkers
- Digital health innovation
- Clinical implementation research
- Medical device evaluation
- Knowledge translation
- Precision medicine
- Collaborative innovation
Education and Knowledge Exchange
Research has greatest impact when knowledge is shared.
EDMRN promotes:
- Continuing professional education
- Public engagement
- Patient education
- Research training
- Student mentorship
- International collaboration
- Open science
- Evidence-informed policy development
Collaborate With Us
The Eyes Do Matter Research Network welcomes collaboration with researchers, clinicians, universities, healthcare organizations, charities, industry partners, policymakers, and patient groups who share our vision of reducing avoidable blindness and improving eye health through high-quality research.
Together, we can generate the evidence needed to improve vision, influence policy, strengthen healthcare systems, and ensure that eye health remains a public health priority for future generations.