Health & Wellbeing
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In parallel to our studies of disease, we also research
how the healthy human visual system processes visual
information; this work is of vital importance to clinical and
technological applications. Our expertise in visual percep-
tion covers colour and 3D vision. We are investigating how
colour vision changes with age and the extent to which
compensatory mechanisms are in place to alleviate the
effects of changes in the optical media and in the retina.
Basic colour vision tests can be used as an early
diagnostic tool for degenerative diseases such
as age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
or glaucoma.
Understanding the human colour vision system
also allows us to improve and optimise colour
reproduction in emerging display technologies.
Diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a progressive eye condition that
can lead to blindness. Whilst early changes cause no
problems and require no treatment, later stages require
detection and treatment to prevent visual loss. Detection
for masses is only feasible through automated grading.
The University has significant expertise in advanced signal
and image processing and in all aspects of computational
intelligence. These have been harnessed to address
issues in automated full disease grading in diabetic
retinopathy.
Expertise
•
Automated location and characterisation of normal
anatomical structures
•
Establishment of a fovea-centred coordinate
system
•
Optimisation of algorithms for the detection of
features of diabetic retinopathy.
Capabilities and facilities
•
Molecular biology laboratories
•
Reference bank for strains of ophthalmology infections
•
Ophthalmic imaging suites
•
Colour psychophysics laboratory
•
Spectroradiometer
•
Colour deficiency tests for early diagnosis of
age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma
•
Automated ophthalmic image processing (automated
location and characterisation of normal anatomical
structures; algorithms for the detection of features of
diabetic retinopathy)
•
Human tissue retrieval and primary cell culture
•
Cell-based therapies and ocular tissue
transplantations
•
Biomechanical analysis and modelling of ocular tissues
•
Development of medical devices to improve clinical
practice in ophthalmology
•
Clinical trials, especially for diabetic and malarial
retinopathy therapeutics.
Relevant centres and groups
•
Clinical Eye Research Centre, St Paul’s Eye Unit
•
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
Also see:
Digital Technologies –
2.1
Signal processing and
communications, page 145
For further information
on all our specialist
centres, facilities and
laboratories
go to page
179
