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Matt J Dunn  PhD MCOptom FHEA

Dr Matt J Dunn

PhD MCOptom FHEA

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Available for postgraduate supervision

Teams and roles for Matt J Dunn

Overview

Research in my lab asks what keeps our perception of the world stable and reliable, and what happens when it isn't. The core of this programme is infantile nystagmus, where perception remains surprisingly stable despite constant involuntary eye movements. We also study disorders of perception in which reliable perception breaks down, including visual hallucinations in Charles Bonnet Syndrome, and time perception in visual stress and dyslexia.

I am also working to bring eye tracking into routine eye care and neurology practice. I coordinated the international consensus behind the reporting guidelines for eye-tracking research, and founded the International Society for Clinical Eye Tracking (ISCET), which brings together over 150 clinicians, researchers and engineers to develop clinical standards for eye tracking; I currently serve as General Coordinator. I am the author of the Dictionary of Eye Care and Vision Science (CRC Press, 2026).

Our research often involves people with orthoptic or perceptual disorders, whose experiences help us understand how normal vision works. If you have a neurological visual disorder and would like to take part in research, find out more about our participant panel.

Publication

2026

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

Articles

Books

Conferences

Monographs

Thesis

Research

My research combines eye tracking, psychophysics and technology development, and falls into three connected strands.

Clinical eye tracking. Eye trackers can make existing diagnostic tests more reliable. We developed high-speed, continuously gaze-contingent perimetry and introduced eye-tracking-enhanced VEPs for nystagmus. Building on our international reporting guidelines for eye-tracking research, ISCET is now working towards clinical standards. Our recent Lancet Digital Health commentary sets out the case for eye tracking in routine diagnosis.

Disorders of perception. We investigate what happens when perception becomes unreliable, and why. We study the mechanisms behind visual hallucinations in Charles Bonnet Syndrome, and the origins of visual distortions. In the flashed face distortion effect, we traced these distortions to peripheral vision; in visual stress and dyslexia, we are investigating the role of altered visual timing.

Infantile nystagmus. Why does the world look stable to people whose eyes never stop moving? Our work has shown that visual processing in nystagmus is not slow, that visual acuity is fundamentally limited and depends on gaze direction, and that the fovea itself is altered in the condition. We are now developing better clinical measures of how people with nystagmus actually see.

My full academic CV is available online.

Current research collaborators (external)

Teaching

I am a fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).

Modules currently taught

OP3506 Research and Evidence-Based Optometry (module leader)

Modules previously taught

OP3103 Binocular Vision (clinic lead)
OP3207 Research in Optometry and Vision Science
OP4001 Introduction to Clinical Optometry Practice
OP2503 Pathology and Management
OP0205 Introductory Optometry
OP3205 Occupational Optometry, Law and Business (module leader)
OP3104 Abnormal Ocular Conditions
OP2206 Colour Vision and Perception (module leader)
OP3106 Visual Perception (module leader)
OP2207 Visual Perception (module leader)
OP2201 Clinical Studies and Dispensing
OPT006 Paediatric Ophthalmology
OPT007 Eye Care for People with Learning Disabilities
OP2104 Binocular Vision
OP3103 Primary Eye Care
OP2103 Investigative Techniques
Doctoral Academy MATLAB programming

 

Biography

Professional memberships

  • General Coordinator, ISCET
  • Research advisor, Nystagmus Network
  • GOC registered optometrist
  • Fellow, Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
  • Member of the College of Optometrists (MCOptom)

Academic positions

2024 – Present Senior Lecturer, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University
2016 – 2024 Lecturer, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University
2014 – 2016 Research Associate, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University
2013 – 2015 Teacher, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University
2014 – 2014 Research Associate, Department of Neuroscience, Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board
2013 – 2014 Research Associate, School of Psychology, Cardiff University
2010 – 2013 Clinical supervisor, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University

Speaking engagements

Invited talks

2025 Nystagmus Network (UK): Towards clinical standards in eye tracking
2025 Gordon Research Conference on Eye Movements (Massachusetts, US)
2024 Johns Hopkins University: Dr Zee's Ocular Motor & Vestibular Lecture Series (Maryland, US): Visual perception in infantile nystagmus
2023 Sight Cymru (UK): Charles Bonnet syndrome
2022 Erasmus MC (Rotterdam, Netherlands): Hans van der Steen Valedictory Symposium
2020 Aravind Eye Hospital (Madurai, India): Nystagmus decoded: Eyetracking made simple (session moderator)
2020 Nystagmus Network (UK): A clinician's guide to nystagmus
2018 RNIB Wales (Cardiff, UK): Understanding infantile nystagmus
2017 Vision 2017 (The Hague, Netherlands): 'Time to see' in infantile nystagmus
2016 Rank Prize Funds (Grasmere, UK): Visual perception in the presence of nystagmus
2016 Oxford, Bristol, Cardiff & Southampton Alliance in Vision Research (Cardiff, UK): Seeing with nystagmus
2016 100% Optical (London, UK): A clinician's guide to nystagmus
2015 Leicester Royal Infirmary (Leicester, UK): Visual perception in infantile nystagmus
2015 Midland Peripatetic Group for Teachers of the Visually Impaired (Birmingham, UK): Seeing with nystagmus
2015 LV Prasad Eye Institute (Hyderabad, India): Visual perception in infantile nystagmus
2015 UC Berkeley (California, US): Visual perception in infantile nystagmus
2015 University of Houston (Texas, US): Visual perception in infantile nystagmus

 

Committees and reviewing

Editorial board member for Documenta Ophthalmologica.

Journal reviewer for:

  • Current Biology
  • Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine
  • Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
  • Behavior Research Methods
  • Scientific Reports
  • Eye
  • Frontiers in Psychology
  • Acta Psychologica
  • Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience
  • Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics
  • Psychophysiology
  • Cognition
  • PLOS One
  • Clinical Ophthalmology
  • Optometry and Vision Science
  • Journal of Ophthalmology
  • Vision Research
  • Journal of Eye Movement Research
  • Therapeutic Advances in Rare Disease
  • Current Eye Research
  • Strabismus
  • British and Irish Orthoptic Journal
  • Optometry in Practice

Grant reviewer for:

  • Medical Research Council
  • ZonMw

Supervisions

If you are interested in pursuing a PhD with me, please get in touch or click here for more information.

Past projects

Past PhD students as lead supervisor

  • Dr Bader Almagren—Spatiotemporal deficits and their relationship to poor reading
  • Dr Khawlah Alfaifi—Accommodative facility as a predictor of ocular fatigue
  • Dr Mason T Wells—Cinematic scanning: using movie watching fMRI to investigate the function and organisation of the visual brain
  • Dr Nikita Thomas—Development of a novel gaze-contingent perimeter and assessment of retinal structure in infantile nystagmus

Past PhD students as co-supervisor

  • Dr Katherine Ward—Infantile nystagmus: exploring the causes and establishing better measures of vision

Current supervision of PhD students (external)

Contact Details

Email [email protected]
Telephone +44 29208 70576
Campuses Optometry and Vision Sciences, Room Room 2.12, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ

Specialisms

  • Perception
  • Eye tracking
  • Psychophysics
  • Nystagmus