Using adaptive optics, previously developed in astronomy to visualize distance stars and planets, we will be able to decompose different optical signals and send them to the retina to properly analyse the accommodative response of the subjects. Results of this analysis will be used to provide mathematical models for describing the shape of the human crystalline lens and to assess the changes in optical quality during accommodation with age.

Supervisors: R. Montés-Micó  & N. López-Gil Coll.: H. Radhakrishnan & M. Zajac

Early Stage Researcher 1:  Aikaterini Moulakaki

Host Institution: University of Valencia (Spain)

Click here to watch a video presentation of the project presented by Aikaterini Moulakaki.

By combining aberration microfluctuation data with information from crystalline lens response to different optical signals and imaging data of the crystalline lens it will be possible to link the theories of how ageing influences aberrations and microfluctuations to the known anatomical changes in the ageing eye. This information will be subsequently used to develop mathematical models for describing the shape of the human crystalline lens and its short (microfluctuations) and long (age) term changes

Supervisors: H. Radhakrishnan & D. Madrid-Costa Coll.: T. Ferrer-Blasco & N. López-Gil & R. Iskander

Early Stage Researcher 2:  Irene Sisó Fuertes

Host Institution: University of Manchester (United Kingdom)

Click here to watch a video presentation of the project presented by Irene Sisó Fuertes

Using the information provided from Crystalline lens response to different optical signals this investigation will help us to understand the changes in refractive index distribution of the lens, curvatures of the lens capsule and corneal structure as a function of accommodation and with age. This information will be used to develop mathematical models for describing the shape of the human crystalline lens and its changes with age.

Supervisors:  M. Zajac & T. Ferrer-Blasco Coll.: H. Radhakrishnan, R. Montés-Micó & N. López-Gil

Early Stage Researcher 3:  Danilo Andrade de Jesus

Host Institution: Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Instrumentation, Politechnika Wroclawska (Poland)

Click here to watch a video presentation of the project presented by Danilo Andrade de Jesus

Aging of the eye may cause changes that affect the quality of vision by means of a reduced visual acuity and an increased straylight. Straylight is the functional impairment caused by the scattering of light in the eye, which leads to a veil of straylight over the retina and, thus, to visual complaints such as hazy vision, blinding by headlights from upcoming cars, and loss of contrast. These complaints can be assessed subjectively with specialized questionnaires on visual function. Furthermore, several instruments are available to determine the optical quality of the eye. In this project we will investigate what complaints are caused by each of these factors in the aging eye, whether they can be (objectively) measured and correlated to complaints expressed by patients, and how ophthalmologists take these factors into consideration in their decision-making to perform (or not) cataract surgery

Supervisors: N. Reus & N. Chateau Coll: R. Montés-Micó, N. López-Gil & T. van den Berg

Early Stage Researcher 4:  Sonia Gholami

Host Institution: The Rotterdam Ophthalmic Institute (The Netherlands)

Click here to watch a video presentation of the project presented by Sonia Gholami

Based on the hardware already marketed by the company, they will develop an optical system that will measure the spatially-resolved scattering of the eye by means of the recording and subsequent analysis of Shack-Hartman images. The project will be of great interest to know the impact of intraocular scattering upon the retinal image and during objective refraction, as well as to understand the subjective changes of intraocular scattering and the structural changes undergone by the lens throughout life

Supervisors: N. Chateau & N. López-Gil Coll.: R. Iskander & T. van den Berg

Experienced Researcher 1:  Franz Felberer

Host Institution: Imagine Eyes (France)

Click here to watch a video presentation of the project presented by Franz Felberer

Depth of focus of the eye is influenced by a variety of factors, such as pupil size and ocular aberrations. This project aims to further understand the way in which depth of focus changes with the changes that occur in the crystalline lens during accommodation and with age. These changes will be then mathematically modelled.  The basis of this project will be the information gathered about Age-related changes in the optics of the human eye with accommodation and anatomical and structural changes of the crystalline lens with accommodation and age. The theoretical background provided by the projects described above and the experimental data gathered in this one will help to develop accurate mathematical depth-of-focus models and possible ways to alter depth of focus.

Supervisors: I. Murray & N. López-Gil Coll.: D. Madrid-Costa & R. Iskander

Early Stage Researcher 5:  Juan F. Zapata Díaz

Host Institution: University of Manchester (United Kingdom)

Click here to watch a video presentation of the project presented by Juan F. Zapata Díaz

To better understand the optical properties of the human crystalline lens, we must be able to model it accurately. Its two critical properties are shape and internal distribution of the gradient refractive index. In the past, different mathematical models to describe the lens shape have been proposed. However, none of the models considered the dynamic behaviour of the lens. The project aims to develop a comprehensive model of the anterior eye segment (cornea and lens) that includes the effect of temporal changes in optical microfluctuations, accommodation and age. Information from all other subprojects will be combined into this development

Supervisors: R. Iskander & H Radhakrishnan Coll.: R. Montés-Micó & N. López-Gil

Early Stage Researcher 6:  Alejandra Consejo-Vaquero

Host Institution: Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Instrumentation, Politechnika Wroclawska (Poland)

Click here to watch a video presentation of the project presented by Alejandra Consejo-Vaquero

Standard clinical methods will be used (Badal optometers, minus lenses and push-up) to obtain the subjective refraction (SRx), the amplitude of accommodation (AA) and the depth of focus (DoF), in conjunction with experimental objective systems based on wavefront refraction. Objective data will be processed using different image-quality metrics and the results will be compared with subjective data, in order to find objective predictors of the SRx, AA and DoF under different situations. Experimental results will be of great interest for the eye-modelling tasks and to explain changes undergone by the aging eye with accommodation.

Supervisors: N. López-Gil & R. Iskander. Coll.: H. Radhakrishnan & N. Chateau

Early Stage Researcher 7:  Matt Jaskulski

Host Institution: University of Murcia (Spain)

Click here to watch a video presentation of the project presented by Matt Jaskulski

By means of adaptive optics, using a visual simulator, we will assess in vivo and in real subjects the visual function provided by the various optical designs measured previously. This will give us comparative data on the performance of the different optical solutions to correct presbyopia, without the need of surgery. Results of this project will be linked to the mathematical models obtained and to the new optical designs developed. This project will help to develop new optical designs to improve presbyopic corrections using both contact and intraocular lenses.

Supervisors: D. Madrid-Costa & H. Radhakrishnan, Coll.: N. López-Gil & C. Spera

Early Stage Researcher 8:  Eleni Papadatou

Host Institution: University of Valencia (Spain)

Click here to watch a video presentation of the project presented by Eleni Papadatou.

In cataract surgery, once the opacified crystalline lens has been removed and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL), straylight values are significantly lower than preoperative ones. However, they are still higher than expected (i.e., higher than those found in age-matched patients whose eyes have a clear crystalline lens). The reason for this is still unknown. The aim of this study is to measure IOLs' optical quality both in vivo and in vitro, and to determine sources of increased intraocular scatter in pseudophakic eyes. These results will be used in to simulate visual quality of different optical designs and to model the optical design of lenses to reduce light scattering.

Supervisors: T. van den Berg & N. López-Gil, Coll.: T. Ferrer-Blasco & N. Reus

Early Stage Researcher 9:  Grzegorz Labuz

Host Institution: The Rotterdam Ophthalmic Institute (The Netherlands)

Click here to watch a video presentation of the project presented by Grzegorz Labuz

Optical elements such as IOL with increased depth-of-field (DoF), optical prosthesis, and external optical aids, will be evaluated in terms of functional image quality (on- and off-axis), distortion, visual field, ghosting and glare, coupling to conventional ophthalmic corrections, and tolerance to displacements. Results of this project will be both used as evaluation tools and feasible prototyping models.  This project is related with Intraocular Scattering modelling, anatomical characterization of the eye and DoF improvements

Supervisors: T. Ferrer-Blasco & T. Van der Berg. Coll.: R. Iskander & H. Radhakrishnan

Early Stage Researcher 10:  Georgios Zoulinakis

Host Institution: University of Valencia (Spain)

Click here to watch a video presentation of the project presented by Georgios Zoulinakis.

The fellow will carry out a combined analytical and numerical study of the different clinical protocols (optical- and visual-quality assessment and clinical complications) of contact and intraocular lenses available in the market and manufactured by the company. The analysis of these clinical outcomes will tell us about possible clinical complications of the surgery in intraocular lenses and the fitting process in contact lenses, which will allow us to improve the optical designs to achieve better results.

Supervisors: C. Spera & R. Montés-Micó, Coll.: D. Madrid-Costa & N. López-Gil.

Experienced Researcher 2: Cari Pérez Vives

Host Institution: Alcon (Switzerland)

Click here to watch a video presentation of the project presented by Cari Pérez Vives