Participation in research is important because it contributes to the evolution of medical knowledge and also provides a means by which to keep up with the latest developments in the field. Below are listed some of the projects in which I am involved:

1. Vitrectomy for diabetic macular oedema. I have set up and am running the world’s first randomised controlled trial assessing the effectiveness of vitrectomy for diabetics with macular oedema.

2. Macular hole surgery. Our recent studies have concentrated on the effectiveness of macular hole surgery without posturing and with simultaneous cataract surgery. The results suggested that this patient friendly one stop procedure was just as effective as the traditional two stage procedure with compulsory face down positioning. I have also researched into the visual handicap suffered by patients with macular holes.

3. Measurement of visual acuity. This is a long running project which aims to enhance the traditional techniques of measuring vision as part of a sight test.

4. Electronic patient records. Along with my colleague Mr Tom Williamson and the Diabeta 3 team at St Thomas’ I have been developing a paperless patient record for use in the eye clinic.

5. Research into cataract surgery. I performed and published the results of the only randomised trial which has assessed the effectiveness of second eye cataract surgery, that is surgery on a patient who has a cataract but who has already undergone a cataract operation on the other eye. Whilst intuitively obvious that this would be beneficial, the research was required in order to establish both the value and funding within systems such as the NHS of this technique.