Arvind Chandna

The Chandna Lab (SeeLab) is focused on mechanisms of visual loss in strabismus (misaligned eyes), amblyopia (“lazy eye”) and binocular vision (ability of the two eyes to wok together and see a single image in depth). We investigate disorders of eye movements and abnormal processing of vision in visual areas of the brain in infants, children and adults. The ultimate goal of the work in this lab is develop better methods of detection, diagnosis and treatment of common eye conditions in children. At present, our research is studying strabismus, amblyopia, traumatic brain injury and cerebral visual impairment (vision loss usually through adverse events at birth). Most of what we know about amblyopia and strabismus that guides us at present to treat children comes from studies in adults long after the onset of the condition and prior treatment. In our lab we are pioneering the study of children soon after the onset of the disease providing a vital insight into the presenting state of visual function setting a benchmark for assessment, the course of the disease and it’s improvement with treatment. This work will lead to better understanding of the mechanisms of different patterns within the same disease, early detection of visual loss and improved methods of treatment. To study amblyopia we use multiple techniques. Visual Evoked Potential (VEP) an objective measure and behavioral techniques (psychophysics) a measure of the subject’s response in addition to clinical examination to correlate our findings and bridging the clinical – research gap. Presently we are developing techniques that will diagnose amblyopia at a much earlier age than currently in practice. Our techniques will also help in monitoring the course of the disease and effect of treatment. Strabismus is studied by means of eye movement recordings done through very sophisticated lab-based eye trackers in comparison with eye trackers, which will be employed in the clinic in the future. Our lab also records the focusing power of the eye simultaneously, which is unique. We aim to understand the mechanisms that lead to the breakdown of alignment of the two eyes onto strabismus with the ultimate goal of better-tailored treatment options for different kinds of strabismus. We are also set up to do reading studies that will measure the complexity of reading eye movements and the steady focus that is required. By studying reading in a comprehensive manner we should be able to determine what the abnormalities are and from there devise intervention to improve reading in children and adults with conditions that affect reading ability. We use non-invasive methods to study human vision and eye movements. Our VEP techniques involve the placement on sensors with on the head that pick up the brain responses while the participant looks at a TV monitor displaying a stimulus. Our eye movement techniques will involve you looking at moving physical target; reading text or TV-displayed targets while we non-invasively record eye movements and focusing ability. We often ask for one eye to be covered for brief periods of time in order to record form one eye. Our research studies are approved by the IRB (ethical) Committee. We take great care in ensuring that adults and children who volunteer to participate in our research studies are treated with dignity and respect. Though your participation may not benefit you or your child, it is likely to benefit children and adults with similar conditions in the future. We do not provide any form of clinical treatment or formal advice on management of your eye condition. We actively look forwards to interest from the general public, people with these conditions who may wish to participate in our research and clinicians who may wish to collaborate.