This week Adam visits the School of Optometry and Vision Sciences at Cardiff University to take a closer look at one of the most complex organs in the human body: the eye.

Broadcast Tuesday 15th March at 7pm.

Listen to the latest programme online

Optometry is the area of health care which focuses on the eye and our vision systems. The Cardiff University School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, which has recently celebrated its 75th anniversary, not only trains the next generation of optometrists but it also carries out research into every aspect of this amazing organ - from the cornea at the front of the eye to the cortex in the brain where all our visual information is processed.

Adam is introduced to optometry and the School's range of research by Senior Lecturer Dr. Christine Purslow. He also discovers what can go wrong with our eyes and vision systems. Dr. Alison Binns, for example, is looking into ways of spotting as early as possible age-related macular degeneration, the main cause of blindness in the UK, while Dr. Jon Erichsen is interested in what can go wrong with eye movements. Jon's specialism is nystagmus, a lifelong condition in which the eyes continuously 'wobble'.

Adam also visits the Special Assessment Clinic which is run by Dr. Maggie Woodhouse. Visual impairments are far more common in people with learning disabilities than in the rest of the population and Maggie shows Adam a few of the eye tests she's developed to help clients who have difficulty in reading or communicating.

Finally, Adam meets the Head of School, Prof. Tim Wess, for a chat about collagen. Collagen is one of the most abundant materials in the human body, a key component not only of the eye but of many other organs, including the skin. And because of this it's often found in ancient manuscripts like the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Domesday Book which were written on animal hide. Tim tells Adam about his pioneering work using X-rays to read the text of manuscripts which are too delicate or damaged to be unrolled.

Links

School of Optometry and Vision Sciences

CU Optometrists

Nystagmus Network