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Tony Redmond BSc PhD MCOptom FHEA

Dr Tony Redmond

BSc PhD MCOptom FHEA

Reader

School of Optometry and Vision Sciences

Overview

Research overview

My main research interests are in basic and clinical psychophysics. Research in my lab is mainly aimed at gaining a better understanding of the functional architecture of the healthy visual system and how it is altered in neurodegenerative disorders such as glaucoma and macular degeneration. To address these aims, my lab uses a combination of psychophysics, electrophysiology, retinal imaging, and fMRI. We also us this understanding to inform the design of accurate and precise clinical tools for identifying the earliest deficits of visual perception in these disorders. I am Principal Investigator on the REVAMP Study, a UK-wide multi-site study funded by a MRC DPFS, in which we are developing an evidence-based novel form of visual field test for identification and monitoring of eye disease, most notably glaucoma.

Teaching overview

I am module leader for the Research and Study Skills module on the Postgraduate Taught Programmes. I also teach on the Clinical Studies & Dispensing module and supervise final year undergraduates in the Research Project module.

Publication

2024

2023

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

Articles

Conferences

Research

Research

My main research interests are in basic and clinical psychophysics. Research in my lab is mainly aimed at gaining a better understanding of the functional architecture of the healthy visual system and how it is altered in neurodegenerative disorders such as glaucoma and macular degeneration. To address these aims, my lab uses a combination of psychophysics, electrophysiology, retinal imaging, and fMRI. We also us this understanding to inform the design of accurate and precise clinical tools for identifying the earliest deficits of visual perception in these disorders.

Better measures of the visual field in glaucoma

My research has focussed on characterising disease signal and response variability with various stimulus configurations in patients with glaucoma, and exploring ways in which the signal/noise ratio can be increased to improve the detection of subtle vision loss over time. I am also interested in how clinical measures of vision are affected by non-neural changes in the eye that occur with age or eye disease (e.g. increased intraocular straylight, crystalline lens yellowing).

Research & Evaluation of Area-Modulation Perimetry (REVAMP study)

My team has recently been awarded £1.82million by the MRC Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme (DPFS) for research into better ways to identify visual field loss in people with glaucoma. This work is being undertaken in collaboration with Dr Padraig Mulholland and Prof. Roger S Anderson at Ulster University, Prof. David F Garway-Heath at UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, and Prof. James E Morgan at Cardiff University. More details, including how to take part in the study, can be found on the REVAMP webpage.

Deficits of visual perception with age and disease

We have investigated changes in spatial summation with age and in early glaucoma. Two papers by our group, published side-by-side in Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science showed that although spatial summation is unchanged with advancing age, a loss of sensitivity (to a small spot of light varying in brightness) in early glaucoma can be accounted for by an enlargement of the area of complete spatial summation (Ricco's area). More recent work by our group has shown that temporal summation is also altered in glaucoma. Taken together, these findings have direct implications for the design of accurate clinical tests for measuring early visual field deficits in glaucoma.

Brain imaging

We use fMRI and psychophysics to study reorganisation in the human visual cortex in glaucoma, with colleagues in the Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC). This work is generously funded by Fight for Sight, the Eye Research Charity.

In vivo cone imaging

We have been undertaking a series of experiments in which cones are imaged in vivo using clinical instrumentation. Initial findings have recently been published in the journal Ophthalmology.

Visual acuity

Clinical visual acuity tests are quick and simple to perform, but the results can be highly variable, making them rather insensitive to subtle changes in vision that occur over time or in response to treatment. One contributing factor is the wide variation in optotype legibility. In one study, we showed how 'vanishing optotype acuity' (acuity measured with pseudo-high-pass optotypes) is more uniform across letters than acuity to conventional letters. Vanishing optotypes can be seen in Figure 3.

Financial support and awards

MRC Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme (DPFS). PI: T Redmond, Co-applicants: RS Anderson, PJ Mulholland, DF Garway-Heath, JE Morgan, 2021-25 £1,822,941
Global Challenges Research Fund. PI: L Terry, Co-applicants: T Redmond, J Albon, EK Morny (University of Cape Coast, Ghana), 2019 £34,520
The College of Optometrists Postgraduate Scholarship, 2018-21 £58,611
Macular Society PhD Studentship. PI: PJ Mulholland, Co-applicants: RS Anderson, T Redmond, DF Garway-Heath, M Crossland, 2017-2020 £100,000
Fight for Sight PhD Studentship. PI: T Redmond, Co-applicant: KD Singh. Collaborators: JE Morgan, SK Rushton, FA Ennis, 2016-2019 £100,000
British Council, Newton Fund. PI: AJ Quantock, Co-applicants: T Redmond, M Votruba, 2016 £35,000
The College of Optometrists Research Fellowship, 2013-16 £27,494
The College of Optometrists Postgraduate Scholarship, 2013-16 £55,878
The College of Optometrists Summer Scholarship, 2013 £2,000
The Wellcome Trust Biomedical Vacation Scholarship, 2013 £1,440
Travel grant; oral presentation award (1st prize) at 23rd Annual Dalhousie University Ophthalmology Research Meeting, Halifax, Canada CAD$750
Fight for Sight Dr Hans and Mrs Gertrude Hirsch Award'Determining patient-specific baseline ganglion cell density using  in vivo imaging of the retinal cone mosaic in glaucoma'.Lead applicant: T Redmond. Co-applicant: RS Anderson. Collaborators: R Malik, DF Garway-Heath, SC Dakin, 2011-12. £12,200
George Giles Prize for Postgraduate Research Excellence (College of Optometrists), 2010 £500
iPro Practice-based research grant, College of Optometrists,'Assessment of Optic Disc Photographs for Glaucoma by UK optometrists'.Lead applicant: SE Hadwin. Co-applicants: T Redmond, DF Garway-Heath, RS Anderson, 2010-11 £9,901
Research excellence oral presentation award, College of Optometrists Research Symposium, York, UK, 2010 £200
Travel grant, (HPSS R&D N. Ireland, Recognised Research Group for Vision) for attendance at ARVO 2009, Ft. Lauderdale, USA £600
Travel grant, College of Optometrists for attendance at ARVO 2009, Ft. Lauderdale, USA £400
World Glaucoma Congress poster presentation award (2nd place), Boston, USA, 2009  
Training Grant, (HPSS R&D N. Ireland, Recognised Research Group for Vision) for attendance at 'Matlab programming for Cambridge Research Systems equipment', Durham University, 2009 £575
Travel grant, (HPSS R&D N. Ireland Recognised Research Group for Vision) for attendance at ARVO 2008, Ft. Lauderdale, USA £650
Travel grant, International Perimetric Society (IPS) for attendance at IPS 2008, Nara, Japan US$900

Current postgraduate students (with anticipated completion year)

Previous postgraduate students (with completion year)

Research collaborators

Biography

Educational and professional qualifications

2014 FHEA, Postgraduate Certificate in University Teaching and Learning (PCUTL)
Higher Education Academy / Cardiff University
2009 PhD, 'Spatial summation and the structure/function relationship with age and in glaucoma' 
University of Ulster / Moorfields Eye Hospital
2005 Member of the College of Optometrists (MCOptom)
The College of Optometrists
2004                     BSc (Hons) Optometry
University of Ulster

Academic positions

2021 - Present Reader in Vision Science, School of Optometry & Vision Sciences, Cardiff University
2015 - 2021 Senior Lecturer, School of Optometry & Vision Sciences, Cardiff University
2012 - 2015 Lecturer, School of Optometry & Vision Sciences, Cardiff University
2011 - 2012 Research Fellow, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
(PH Artes & BC Chauhan)
2009 - 2011 Post-doctoral research fellow, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London
(SC Dakin & DF Garway-Heath)

Other positions

2010 - 2011     Specialist optometrist (glaucoma, PT), Moorfields Eye Hospital, London

2006 - 2008

 Sessional optometrist (PT), Moorfields Eye Hospital, London
2005 Locum optometrist, private practice
2004 - 2005 Pre-registration optometrist, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London

School and University roles and committees

2017 - 2021 Director of Postgraduate Research
2014 - 2017 Deputy Director of Postgraduate Research                                          

External committees

2019 - Present Member of the Fight for Sight College of Experts Grant Assessment Panel
2018 - Present Editorial Board Member, Current Eye Research
2015 - 2022 Editorial Board Member, Optometry in Practice
2009 - 2010 Chair of the North London Association of Optometrists
2007 - 2010 Committee member of the North London Association of Optometrists


External links

View my neurotree

Honours and awards

  • 2010     George Giles Prize for Postgraduate Research Excellence, The College of Optometrists

Professional memberships

  • Registered with the General Optical Council (Reg. no.: 01-21700)
  • Member of the College of Optometrists (MCOptom)

Contact Details

Email RedmondT1@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone +44 29208 70564
Campuses Optometry and Vision Sciences, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ

External profiles