Associate Professor Robert Casson

Unit Director, Ophthalmology Network, Lyell McEwin Hospital

Qualifications

MB,BS (Hons), DPhil, FRANZCO

Contact details

South Australian Institute of Ophthalmology
Level 8, East Wing
Royal Adelaide Hospital
North Terrace
Adelaide
South Australia 5000
eye@health.sa.gov.au

Sub-specialty

Glaucoma

Education

Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (University of Adelaide1986-1991)
Doctor of Philosophy (Oxford University 2001-2003)

Certification

Fellow Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologist

Professional Affiliations

Board Member Ophthalmic Research Institute of Australia
Member of Hanson Institute, Adelaide
Member of South-East Asian Glaucoma Interest Group
Member of Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
Member Glaucoma Club Australia

Research Interest

The South Australian Institute of Ophthalmology is involved in clinical, epidemiological and laboratory-based research.
My personal interest is in the study of glaucoma via all of these avenues.

Current Projects

Currently, the South Australian Institute of Ophthalmology is conducting is a wide range of glaucoma-based research.

• Clinical research:

  The Glaucoma Service is conducting several clinical trials of a variety of new ocular hypotensive medications and laser surgery.
  

• Epidemiological Research:

  This division has a strong focus on South East Asia, utilizing the existing relationships between the Ophthalmology Network and several neighbouring countries. A large-scale eye survey was recently conducted in central Myanmar and another population-based was completed in Sri Lanka in March 2007. The Ophthalmic component of the Florey Adelaide Male Ageing Study was completed in March 2007.
  

• Laboratory Research:

  The Ophthalmic Research Laboratories have recently been established in the Hanson Centre and collaborate with the Centre for Neurological Diseases Research.
  Current projects include:
  The study of bioenergetic-based neuroprotection.
  • Axon-glial relationships in the optic nerve.
  • The optic nerve in experimental glaucoma
  • Hypoperfusion injury on the retina/optic nerve and brain
  • Neurofilament phosphorylation state in the retina and optic nerve after injury
  • Growth of adult rat retinal ganglion cells
  • Time-lapse videomicroscopy of retinal ganglion cells
  • Retinal trophic factors and the role of the cell cycle in neuronal death.
  • The effect of novel laser treatments on the retina and trabecular meshwork