Oxidative Stress and Eye Diseases
Dr. Renita Martis
My research interests lie in understanding the molecular mechanisms that contribute to the onset of age-related eye disease such as cataracts and retinal disease. As an optometrist, I’ve seen several people affected with age-related conditions and witnessed first-hand the negative impact of the disease on my patients. As a vision scientist, my goal is to translate the laboratory based findings conducted in our cluster to a more clinical setting and by doing so, understand the changes to the human eye that trigger the onset of age-related eye disease.
Current Research Project
Using MRI as a tool to investigate changes in the eye post-surgery.
Dr Wilson Pan, Dr Beau Pontre, Dr Julie Lim, Prof Paul Donaldson
The eye relies on antioxidants from the lens and vitreous humour to maintain health and good vision. The removal of the cataractous lens during cataract surgery and vitreous humour during vitrectomy results in a loss of these antioxidant reserves and an increase in oxygen levels in the eye leading to secondary-eye disease that require further surgery. This project aims to develop and implement an MRI protocol to investigate the molecular and structural changes as well as changes to the oxygen levels over time that occur in the eye post-surgery.
