Visual Functions Laboratory
Research Team
- Professor Algis J Vingrys
- Dr Bang Bui
- Dr Anne Weymouth
- Dr Ruth Hogg
- Dr Trung Dang
- Ms Christine Nguyen
- Ms Laura Downie
- Dr Peter Dimitrov
- Mr Zheng He
- Ms Christine Nguyen
- Mr Peter Yee
National & International Collaborators
- Professor Andrew Sinclair - Food Sciences, RMIT University
- Associate Professor Robyn Guymer - Ophthalmology, University of Melbourne, Australia
- Professor Trevor Lam - Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- Dr E Fletcher, Drs S Rees and M Tolcos - Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Melbourne, Australia
- Dr M Thomas, Drs G Head and J Armitage - Baker Heart Institute Melbourne, Australia
- Professors C Johnson and GA Cioffi and Dr B Fortune, Discoveries in Sight, Portland, USA
Laboratory Information
This laboratory has interests in factors that influence disease development, ageing and normal visual function. We consider the functional aspects of vision with psychophysical and electrophysiological methods. The lab has close links to other laboratories within Melbourne University (Anatomy and Cell Biology and Ophthalmology) and at other institutes (Howard Florey Institute, Baker Heart Institute and Deakin University).
Our human work considers how the normal eye processes coloured and temporal variations in the visual field. This information has been used to develop tests of early visual loss. One such development is the application of luminous-pedestal flickering targets to perimetry. With this work we are identifying the mechanisms involved in processing luminous-pedestal flicker thresholds. The laboratory has also defined the effect that normal ageing has on vision and studied the effects that ocular diseases, such as ARMD diabetes and glaucoma, have on vision. In particular we are interested in developing tests that can detect these processes early.
Our expertise in retinal electrophysiology allows us to consider these issues in small animals or with objective tests that can be applied to address some of the questions that we find from human studies and especially to consider the effect of:
- functional losses in glaucoma, Age-related maculopathy and diabetes
- neo-natal factors influencing eye development
- understanding retinal processing and developing test for early disease detection.
Students wishing to work in the Visual Functions Laboratory will learn computing skills, modelling, electrophysiological and/or psychophysical methods. Collaborative projects will provide a broad experience in anatomy, systemic physiology and/or biochemical methods. Those interested should discuss potential projects with A/Prof Vingrys.
Selected Recent Publications
- Bui, B.V., A. J. Vingrys, J. W. Wellard and M. Kalloniatis (2004). Monocarboxylate transport inhibition alters retinal function and cellular amino acid levels. Eur J Neurosci, 20: 1525-37.
- Phipps, J. A., A. J. Vingrys, R. H. Guymer (2004). Flicker perimetry losses in age-related macular degeneration. Investigative Ophthalmology Vision Science, 45: 3355-60
- Phipps, J. A., E. L. Fletcher, A. J. Vingrys (2004). Paired-flash identification of rod and cone dysfunction in the diabetic rat. Investigative Ophthalmology Vision Science, 45: 4592-600.
- Zele, A., and A. J. Vingrys (2005) Cathode-ray-tube monitor artifacts in neurophysiology. Journal Neuroscience Methods, 141: pp.1-7. (50%, supervisor ‡)
- Zele, A. J., K. O'Loughlin R, R. H. Guymer, A. J. Vingrys (2005). Disclosing disease mechanisms with a spatio-temporal summation paradigm. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol (in press): pp.1-8.