Why? Visual field defects may be the first sign of serious eye or central nervous system (CNS) disease, however, testing visual fields in young children in a reliable manner is difficult and new methods are needed.

How? The Standardized Oculomotor and Neurological Disorders Assessment (SONDA) paradigm measures several spatio-temporal properties of eye movements using eye-tracking. In this way, visual field defects may be detected as well as deviating oculomotor behavior. The method only requires little active interaction from the participants and as such holds promise for the use in young children. This study aims to optimize and validate this method for healthy children and for children with known visual field defects caused by ocular or CNS disease. The project includes investigation of the method as a way to identify deviating ocular motor behavior as an initial sign of CNS tumor and as evidence of tumor progression for children with CNS tumors. As comparative measures visual field evaluation is performed according to the individual child’s age and cognitive capabilities (Am Donders/Campimetry/Goldmann/Octopus) and an evaluation of the Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer(RNFL) and of the Retinal Ganglion Cell (RGC) layer using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), as it is well established that the thickness of the RNFL and RGC correlates to visual field defects. Finally, the above-mentioned methods will be included in a study aimed at evaluating the benefits of visual training programs for children with visual problems related to previous CNS tumor.

Where? The project is based the Copenhagen University Hospital (Denmark), Rigshospitalet-Glostrup, as a collaboration between the Department of Ophthalmology and the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. The team is composed of professor and chief physician Miriam Kolko, chief physician and pediatric neuro-oncologist René Mathiasen, specialist registrar/postdoc and pediatric ophthalmologist Sarah von Holstein and postdoc Barbara Nordhjem. As such, the candidate can expect to work in an interdisciplinary research environment.

What can you expect to learn and experience? The candidate will be trained in various ophthalmological investigation methods such as visual field-testing techniques, including eye-tracking technologies and assessments. You will gain experience in ophthalmology, pediatrics, neurology and oncology.

Who? We are looking for a candidate with a medical background and interest in ophthalmology and pediatric oncology. Previous research experience is preferred. Communication skills, patience and the desire to work with children are of great importance. Ophthalmological and pediatric experience is valued, but not a requirement.  A willingness to master the Danish language is a plus, to facilitate interaction with the children.

References

• Grillini, A., Ombelet, D., Soans, R. S., & Cornelissen, F. W. (2018). Towards Using the Spatio-temporal Properties of Eye Movements to Classify Visual Field Defects. https://doi.org/10.1145/3204493.3204590
• Grillini, A., Renken, R. J., Vrijling, A. C. L., Heutink, J., & Cornelissen, F. W. (2020). Eye Movement Evaluation in Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease Using a Standardized Oculomotor and Neuro-Ophthalmic Disorder Assessment (SONDA). Frontiers in Neurology, 11, 971. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2020.00971
• Patel, D. E., Cumberland, P. M., Walters, B. C., Russell-Eggitt, I., Rahi, J. S., Khaw, P. T., Timms, C., Brookes, J., Moore, A., Papadopoulos, M., Garway-Heath, D., Viswanathan, A., Liasis, A., Crabb, D., & Cortina-Borja, M. (2015). Study of optimal perimetric testing in children (OPTIC): Feasibility, reliability and repeatability of perimetry in children. PLoS ONE, 10(6), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0130895
• Bialer, O. Y., Goldenberg-Cohen, N., Toledano, H., Snir, M., & Michowiz, S. (2013). Retinal NFL thinning on OCT correlates with visual field loss in pediatric craniopharyngioma. Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology, 48(6), 494–499. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjo.2013.05.001