There is a relatively new blindness epidemic
happening around the world. It is predicted that half the world’s population
will be short-sighted (or myopic) by 2050, and nearly 1 billion people will
progress to dangerously high levels of myopia what can lead to profound
blindness.
Most people are not aware of this new
epidemic or how to guide their children’s development to avoid myopia. Sally
McFadden, from the School of Psychology at UoN, is involved in supporting both the
production of international guidelines with the International Myopia Institute as
well as the production of an educational film about this epidemic and its possible
causes. A link to a teaser for this film can be found here:
LOSING SIGHT: Inside the Myopia Epidemic
Sally has been working for decades on the
science of myopia and its causes. Her dedication has led to the translation of
her work into developing possible treatments for myopia. These include drugs
that aim to halt the relentless progression of myopia, and for those who have
already developed high myopia, bioengineering treatments that aim to stop the
development of associated changes in the eye that lead to profound blindness. The
Vision Sciences Group led by Sally is seeking new PhD students who wish to
participate in this exciting work. Additionally, The Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) is interested in hearing from anyone who wishes
to support the important research work that will help develop these treatments.
