The OHRI Vision Program includes 17 scientists and clinical investigators leading research teams focusing on a wide variety of vision disorders. The program was founded in 1992 as the research arm of the University of Ottawa Eye Institute, located at the General Campus of The Ottawa Hospital. Research efforts have grown steadily through recruitment and through construction of the new Centre for Research on Age-Related Blindness.

In the Vision Program, basic science investigators explore the biological processes that occur in the normal visual system (including both the eye and the brain), at the molecular, cellular, and visual processing level. These research projects include molecular analyses of corneal wound healing following laser surgery; the development of artificial corneas for drug testing, refractive correction and transplantation; and the identification of the genes and proteins in regenerating tissues in salamander (newts). Additional areas of research include development of newer more sensitive instruments for non-invasive imaging of ocular tissues, molecular genetic analysis of cone photoreceptors and gene and stem cell therapy for retinal disease.

Clinical research entails areas of ophthalmic interest that can be directly applied to patient care or treatments. This includes development of orbital implants, as well as clinical trials in the application of the excimer laser for myopia, hyperopia and presbyopia, including studies of the impact of the latest technological improvements on surgical and refractive outcome, long- and short-term corneal wound healing, and quality of vision. In addition, we are investigating how to improve our ability to measure the shape of the corneal surface before and after surgery and to correlate the changes that occur with the quality of vision that is achieved post-operatively. New imaging technology is being evaluated for the early detection and monitoring of Age-Related Macular Degeneration as well as a number of clinical trials with new drug and laser therapies for wet macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. As well, studies are ongoing in the areas of treatment for dry eye and infectious corneal ulcers. Our investigators are playing a lead role in a systematic review of wait times for cataract surgery as well as developing projections in the number of visually impaired and blind persons in Canada to guide health policies as they pertain to the vision health of Canadians.

Part of the success of the Vision Program lies in the collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to problem solving. Through collaboration, scientists and clinicians have developed successful research programs in a number of areas, including refractive surgery, tissue engineering, biomedical instrumentation, and ocular genetics, amongst others. Few eye care facilities around the world have been able to achieve the same level of cooperation and interaction.