Professor Andrew Turpin
Visual field testing is critical to the diagnosis and monitoring of glaucoma. The current test is time consuming, tedious and has a number of limitations. There have been very few improvements to the test since it was developed over 30 years ago. Until now.
Visual field tests are used to measure vision in a range of circumstances including after a stroke or injury, and for a number of eye diseases such as glaucoma.
Professor Andrew Turpin is the inaugural Lions Curtin Chair in Ophthalmic Data. His research focuses on technological innovation in early detection of glaucoma and monitoring disease progression. Professor Turpin’s research aims to revolutionise the current ‘one size fits all’ visual field test. Customising tests for individual patients will provide ophthalmologists with more accurate information. This will allow for earlier diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma and assist in determining sooner if current treatments are effective.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging is often used alongside visual field testing to assist in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma. However, obtaining a direct correlation between the two is a challenge for ophthalmologists, who must reconcile the data manually during a consultation.
Professor Turpin and his team plan to use artificial intelligence image processing and other machine learning techniques to assist ophthalmologists in making connections between the two measurements, leading to more efficient and accurate diagnosis and treatment decisions.
Did you know?
- Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in Australia and worldwide.
- Over 50% of people with glaucoma don’t know they have it.
- It is estimated that there are 300,000 Australians living with glaucoma.
- Glaucoma can be hereditary, and you are ten times more likely to have glaucoma if you have a direct family member with the disease.
