Perth-based Lions Eye Institute (LEI) and The University of Western Australia (UWA) have established three new professional chairs to increase LEI’s research capacity and boost local access to optometric and ophthalmic eyecare.
The Ian Constable chair in discovery and translational ophthalmic science, honouring LEI founding director Professor Ian Constable’s 40-plus-year contribution to ophthalmic science and clinical practice, aims to develop new techniques for earlier diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma and retinal vascular diseases, said the LEI. While the chair in optometry translational research will focus on methods of detecting and managing ocular disease earlier and evolving new eyecare pathways to reduce preventable blindness by making eyecare services accessible to all. Finally the Lions Curtin chair in ophthalmic big data will use artificial intelligence, medical imaging analysis, rural and remote eye health, and dataset linkages to improve eye health outcomes.
Recruitment is underway for the roles which are expected to be filled in the new year.
