The Brien Holden Vision Institute undertakes research focused on understanding and developing solutions to refractive errors, which collectively impair the vision of billions of people around the world.

Refractive errors are caused by the inability of the cornea and lens of the eye to bend (refract) light accurately. Someone with a refractive error will experience blurred vision at some distance. Refractive errors are usually corrected with devices such as spectacles or contact lenses.

The most common refractive errors are myopia (short-sightedness), presbyopia (a progressive hardening of the lens with age resulting in the inability to focus on close objects), astigmatism (blurred vision caused by irregular curvature of the front surface of the eye) and hyperopia (long-sightedness).

The Institute is also researching new treatments for ocular complaints such as ‘contact lens related dry eye’ and meibomian gland dysfunction. We continue to further improve contact lens wear by developing more comfortable contact lenses and researching other factors such as contact lens care, infection and inflammation that can occur with wearing contact lenses.