Sheffield researchers from the Orthoptics department at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals have been awarded a Legacy Grant by the Nystagmus Network for their pioneering research into accommodation and focusing ability in individuals with nystagmus. The study, which will be led by Dr Gemma Arblaster and Dr Sonia Toor, aims to enhance clinical understanding of how people with nystagmus focus on objects at varying distances.

The grant was made possible by a generous donation from the late Mrs Rhoda Clarke, who had a great niece with albinism and nystagmus. She hoped that her gift would benefit young people with the condition in the future.

Dr Arblaster expressed her gratitude for the grant, saying, “We are delighted to have been awarded the research grant from the Nystagmus Network, which has been made possible following a generous donation from the late Mrs Rhoda Clarke.”

The study will recruit participants aged 16-36 with infantile nystagmus, albinism and nystagmus, as well as a control group without nystagmus. Various clinical and research techniques will be used to measure focusing ability and determine the most effective methods for measuring it during clinical appointments. This will also lay the groundwork for future research projects in this area.

The research team will use specialized equipment and techniques to study both infantile nystagmus and albinism with nystagmus, in order to identify the most accurate and acceptable measurement techniques for patients.

Dr Harshal Kubavat, chair of the Nystagmus Network’s research committee, expressed their excitement for the project, stating, “The Nystagmus Network is delighted to fund this innovative project. It promises to deliver greater understanding of the condition for both clinicians and patients, perfectly aligning with Mrs Clarke’s wishes to make a lasting impact on nystagmus research and treatment.”

The Nystagmus Network also provides support for individuals with nystagmus, which is a serious, lifelong, incurable form of visual impairment where the eyes constantly move uncontrollably. The organization aims to provide support in all aspects of life for those affected by the condition.