Nystagmus Network (NN)
A Cardiff University research team within the College has been awarded £15K to develop a test to accurately measure the impact of the eye condition nystagmus. The award is being made by the Nystagmus Network and is the first in a new annual scheme from the charity.
The Research Unit for Nystagmus (RUN) at Cardiff University has recently published evidence that visual acuity is an inappropriate measure of visual function in nystagmus. The test, designed by Dr Matt Dunn and the director of RUN Professor Jonathan T. Erichsen, will allow for ‘time to see’ and the null zone to be taken into consideration when assessing the effects of nystagmus (involuntary eye movements).
Dr Dunn said: “Recent work from our lab suggests that visual acuity may not be a relevant measure when assessing changes in visual performance in people with nystagmus. We are therefore very grateful to Nystagmus Network for providing this funding which will enable us to investigate the nature of visual ‘timing’ in infantile nystagmus. This may provide a method for more accurately measuring visual experience and assessing the effectiveness of currently available as well as future treatments.”
Vivien Jones, President, Nystagmus Network, said:
“The proposal will potentially have a significant impact on the research community by providing an important new tool to measure existing and new treatments. This will also provide benefit to those with nystagmus who clearly want to know whether existing or new treatments do lead to improvements in vision.”
The Nystagmus Network has set aside over £40K for research funding in 2014. Awards have already been made to researchers in Leicester and Southampton as well as Cardiff under an innovative small grants scheme which funds smaller items for which funding is often not available. The charity will also be making an award of 10K based on the success of the nystagmus awareness day Wobbly Wednesday – 5th November.
For more information about the Nystagmus Network, please contact: John Sanders, Development manager Tel: 029 2045 4242 email: john.sanders@nystagmusnet.org or helpline: 0845 634 2630, email:info@nystagmusnet.org website:http://www.nystagmusnet.org