Eye insight

Researchers at St. Mary’s University’s Computer Science Department in Texas have been awarded a grant from the US Air Force to study the effects of lasers on the human eye.

The $159,000 (£109,168) grant will allow computer scientists and biologists to develop a computer-based model that will simulate the interaction of lasers with the retina of the eye.

Dr Pamela Fink, associate professor of computer science at St. Mary’s, will direct the grant project.

She said: 'Understanding how over-exposure of light affects the eye and what can be done to remediate those effects is useful in eye surgeries involving tools such as lasers, as well as in determining how to remediate the effects of over-exposure from work in industry and the military.'

Fink added: 'This is likely to produce many new insights into the effects of light exposure on the eye.'

Two St. Mary’s students, one undergraduate biology student and one graduate computer science student, will be involved in the project, which will last for two years.