Visual Functions Laboratory
Research Team
- Professor Algis J Vingrys
- Dr Bang Bui
- Dr Peter Dimitrov
- Dr Zheng He
- Dr George Kong
- Dr Christine Nguyen
- Ms Vickie Wong
- Ms Tina Tsai
- Mr Daniel Adler
- Mr J Charng
- Ms SE Chin
National & International Collaborators
- Dr James Armitage - Baker Heart Institute Melbourne, Australia
- Professor Anne Fulton – Boston Children’s Hospital, Ophthalmology Department, Havard School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
- Professors Robyn Guymer, Jonathan Crowston – Centre for Eye Research, Ophthalmology, University of Melbourne, Australia
- Dr Ruth Hogg, Cambridge University, UK
- Professor Michael Kalloniatis – Department of Optometry and Vision Science, Auckland University, NZ
- Dr Kenichi Kohzaki, The Jikei University, Tokyo, Japan
- Professor Andrew Sinclair – School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Australia
- Dr M Tolcos, Dr M Loeliger and Dr E Fletcher – Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Melbourne, Australia
- Dr I Trounce - Department of Clinical Neurosciences, St Vincent’s Health, Melbourne, Australia
- Dr Andrew Zele - School of Optometry, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
Laboratory Information
This laboratory has interests in visual development and the normal ageing process as well as the development of eye disease. We consider these issues with behavioural and electrophysiological methods.
The lab collaborates with the Ocular Physiology Lab and has close links to other laboratories within Melbourne University (Anatomy and Cell Biology and Ophthalmology) and at other institutes (Baker Heart Institute and Deakin University).
Our human and animal work has defined the effect that normal ageing and the ocular diseases, ARMD, diabetes and glaucoma, can have on vision. In particular we are interested in developing tests that can detect these processes early.
Students in the Visual Functions Laboratory learn computing skills, modelling methods, and electrophysiological and/or psychophysical methods. Collaborative projects provide a broad experience in anatomy, system physiology, neuroscience and/or ocular biochemistry. Those interested in visiting or joining the lab should contact Prof. Vingrys.
About Algis Vingrys
Algis is a graduate of Department of Optometry at The University of Melbourne. He completed his doctoral research in Melbourne and was appointed to his first post-doctoral position in the School of Optometry at the University of Auckland. This was followed by a joint post-doctoral appointment in the Schools of Optometry and Ophthalmology, at The Ohio State University, working with Professors P. Ewen King-Smith PhD and Susan Benes MD, before being appointed as a Lecturer in the Department of Optometry at The University of Melbourne.
Selected Recent Publications
- Dimitrov, P. N., R. H. Guymer, A. J. Zele, A. J. Anderson and A. J. Vingrys (2008). Measuring rod and cone dynamics in age-related maculopathy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 49: 55-65.
- Downie, L. E., M. J. Pianta, A. J. Vingrys, J. L. Wilkinson-Berka and E. L. Fletcher (2008). AT1 receptor inhibition prevents astrocyte degeneration and restores vascular growth in oxygen-induced retinopathy. Glia. 56: 1076-90.
- He, Z., B. V. Bui and A. J. Vingrys (2008). Effect of repeated IOP challenge on rat retinal function. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 49: 3026-34.
- Kohzaki, K., A. J. Vingrys and B. V. Bui (2008). Early inner retinal dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 49: 3595-604.
- Nguyen, C. T., A. J. Vingrys and B. V. Bui (2008). Dietary omega-3 fatty acids and ganglion cell function. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 49: 3586-94.
- Weymouth, A. E. and A. J. Vingrys (2008). Rodent electroretinography: Methods for extraction and interpretation of rod and cone responses. Prog Retin Eye Res. 27: 1-44.
- Zele, A. J., T. M. Dang, R. K. O'Loughlin, R. H. Guymer, A. Harper and A. J. Vingrys (2008). Adaptation Mechanisms, Eccentricity Profiles, and Clinical Implementation of Red-on-White Perimetry. Optom Vis Sci. 85: 309-317.