At the Lions Eye Institute, data is more than numbers on a screen, it is a powerful tool for understanding how eye disease develops, how it can be detected earlier and how care can be improved for patients across Western Australia.
Over the past year, Professor Andrew Turpin, Lions Curtin Chair of Ophthalmic Data at the Lions Eye Institute, and the data analytics research team he leads has brought this vision to life, transforming vast amounts of clinical information into insights that are already shaping the future of eye health in Perth.
One of the group’s most significant achievements has been a large-scale analysis of myopia, or short-sightedness, across the Perth community. Drawing on clinical data from more than 180,000 eyes, the team has mapped how rapidly the prevalence of myopia is increasing in the community. These findings are critical, as rising rates of myopia are closely linked to modern lifestyle factors and can lead to more serious eye conditions later in life. By identifying these trends, the Lions Eye Institute is helping to inform prevention strategies and guide public health responses aimed at protecting vision for future generations.
Drawing on clinical data from more than 180,000 eyes, Professor Andrew Turpin is conducting large-scale analysis of clinical data to map how rapidly the prevalence of myopia is increasing in the Perth community
The team has also made important advances in understanding how vision loss is detected. Through the analysis of 250,000 visual field tests, which are used to monitor conditions such as glaucoma, they found that newer, faster testing methods may overlook small but clinically meaningful areas of damage that traditional tests can detect. This insight is already prompting careful consideration of how best to balance efficiency with diagnostic accuracy, ensuring that patients receive the most reliable assessments possible.
Guided by a robust Information Management Policy and supported by strong governance frameworks, all projects are conducted with a clear commitment to ethical standards, patient privacy and research integrity in partnership with The University of Western Australia and Curtin University. By transforming complex clinical data into a secure, accessible format, the initiative enables researchers to work more efficiently and collaboratively.
For Professor Turpin, the impact of this work is both immediate and far-reaching. “We are only just beginning to see what is possible when you bring together high-quality clinical data and advanced analytics,” he said. “Every dataset represents thousands of patient journeys. By learning from them, we can improve how we detect disease, how we monitor it and ultimately how we care for people.”
As the Lions Eye Institute continues to harness the power of data, our Data Analytics Group is ensuring that Perth remains at the forefront of eye health research. Our work is not only enhancing today’s clinical care but also building a foundation for tomorrow’s discoveries – where smarter use of data leads to earlier interventions, better treatments, and improved vision outcomes for all.
