Researcher

Scientia Professor Fiona Jane Stapleton

My Expertise

Contact lenses, ocular surface, dry eye, ocular microbiology, corneal infection.

Fields of Research (FoR)

Optometry and Ophthalmology, Clinical Microbiology

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Biography

ABOUT ME

Biography

Scientia Professor, School of Optometry and Vision Science, UNSW Sydney

Professor Fiona Stapleton was awarded her PhD from City University and Moorfields Eye Hospital in London for her research on the pathogenesis and epidemiology of contact lens-related disease and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at University College London.  Fiona is a clinical scientist with expertise in epidemiology, basic and clinical research in...view more

ABOUT ME

Biography

Scientia Professor, School of Optometry and Vision Science, UNSW Sydney

Professor Fiona Stapleton was awarded her PhD from City University and Moorfields Eye Hospital in London for her research on the pathogenesis and epidemiology of contact lens-related disease and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at University College London.  Fiona is a clinical scientist with expertise in epidemiology, basic and clinical research in the fields of corneal infection, dry eye and contact lens related disease.

She holds numerous memberships and executive affiliations with scientific organisations, is a regular reviewer for a range of journals, belongs to the international editorial board of three journals, has over 300 peer-reviewed publications, has contributed 20 chapters to textbooks and published one book.

She is currently President of the International Society for Contact Lens Research and is Academic Lead of the Sage Athena Swan initiative at UNSW. She was awarded Fellowship of the Australian Academy of Science and Technology in 2018

TEACHING & OUTREACH

Courses I teach

OPTM5151/52151 - Clinical Ocular Therapeutics

OPTM7213 - Ocular Therapy 1

OPTM7117 - Ocular Therapy 2

Professional affiliations and service positions

  • Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering
  • Life fellow of the British College of Optometrists
  • President of the International Society for Contact Lens Research
  • Diplomate of the American Academy of Optometry (Cornea, Contact Lenses and Refractive Technologies)
  • Therapeutic Accreditation, Optometrists Registration Board, NSW
  • Member of the Optometrists Association Australia
  • Member of the Lacrimal Gland, Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society
  • Optometric Registration in New South Wales
  • Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry
  • Member of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
  • Fellow of the British Contact Lens Association
  • Fellow of the Cornea and Contact Lens Society, Australia
  • Board member, Optometric Vision Research Foundation
  • Board member, Brien Holden Vision Foundation
  • Board member, Future Vision Foundation

 

 


My Qualifications

  • Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, 2018

  • Life Fellow, British College of Optometrists, 2019

  • Diplomate, Cornea, Contact Lens and Refractive Technologies, American Academy of Optometry, 2015

  • Fellow, Cornea and Contact Lens Society of Australia. 2012

  • Fellow, British Contact Lens Association, 2009

  • GradCertOcTher (University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2008)

  • PhD, Thesis entitled ‘The pathogenesis and epidemiology of contact lens related disease’ (City University, London, England, 1991)

  • MSc (by research), Thesis entitled ‘The investigation of spectral sensitivity in diabetes’ (University of Manchester, England, 1988)

  • BSc (Hons, Optometry) (University of Wales, Cardiff, Wales, 1985)


My Awards

AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS

  • The Ohio State University Richard and Leonora Hill Medal address, 2022
  • Top Australian researcher in the field of Ophthalmology and Optometry in both 2020 and 2021 by publications and citations (Australian Newspaper https://specialreports.theaustralian.com.au/1540291/)
  • Asia ARVO Prof. Bireswar Chakrabarti Oration,2021
  • Life Fellowship, British College of Optometrists, 2019
  • Woodward Memorial Medal, UK Hospital Optometrists Association, 2019
  • Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, Technology and Engineering, 2018 
  • Postgraduate Research Supervisor Award, UNSW Sydney, 2018
  • American Academy of Optometry Foundation, Glenn A Fry Award, 2018
  • American Optometric Association, Donald R Korb Award for Excellence, 2018
  • Australian Optometry Barry H Collin Medal, 2018
  • University of Flinders Tony Adams for Evidence Based Practice 2017
  • British Contact Lens Association Medal, 2015
  • American Optometric Foundation, Max Schapero Memorial Award, 2012
  • American Academy of Optometry, Garland Clay Award, 2012
  • Pioneers Award, British Contact Lens Association, 2012
  • University of Houston College of Optometry Award for Distinguished Research on Cornea and Contact Lenses, 2011
  • Dallos Award, British Contact Lens Association, 2009
  • Vice-Chancellors Teaching Award for excellence in postgraduate student supervision, University of New South Wales, 2008
  • Ian Frazer Cup for the best clinical research, College of Ophthalmologists, UK, 2007
  • Dallos Award, British Contact Lens Association, 2006
  • Irving Fatt Memorial Medal, British Contact Lens Association, 1998
  • Fisons Award, Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists, 1993
  • Guide Dogs for the Blind Association post-doctoral fellowship, 1991
  • British College of Optometrists postgraduate (PhD) scholarship, 1988
  • British College of Optometrists postgraduate (MSc) scholarship, 1986

My Research Activities

Research in Detail

Contact lenses

This research focuses on the development of antimicrobial contact lenses and ways of controlling microbial colonisation of contact lens cases during use to prevent keratitis during lens wear. In order for the contact lens market to grow, infections that occur during wear, and comfort for the wearer must be addressed. These projects also involve collaborations with international industry partners. (Willcox, Stapleton)

Epidemiology of contact lens-related infection

Contact lens-related infection is a rare but severe disease and the only complication of contact lens wear to result in loss in vision. This group has established international collaborations to determine the risks of disease, health outcomes, and community costs of eye infections, visual loss and morbidity. Recent areas of interest include epidemiological studies to establish risks associated with contemporary lens wear modalities, studies of virulence characteristics of causative organisms and disease outcomes and understanding host factors in corneal infection. (Stapleton)

Dry eye and contact lens discomfort

Dry eye affects up to 50% of Asian populations and is associated with significant cost and morbidity. This group is exploring the epidemiology, natural history, pathophysiology and genetic determinants of dry eye in Australia and response to treatment in conjunction with our national and international partners. Basic research projects include exploring lipid production by Meibomian gland cells in culture.

For more detail on specifics on Professor Stapleton’s research please see http://www.optometry.unsw.edu.au/research/current-research

Current Student Projects (PhD, Masters and Honours)

  • Microbiological profile and drug resistance in corneal infections

  • The role of oestrogen in dry eye

  • Risk factors in contact lens related disease

  • Antimicrobial contact lenses and storage cases  - efficacy and safety

  • The significance of corneal responses to rubbing-related ocular trauma in keratoconus

  • A study on Infectious Keratitis in Asia

  • Improving outcomes by biosampling ocular surface disease: metabolites expression in corneal infiltrative events associated with contact lens wear

  • Corneal neural markers and dendritic cells in ocular allergy and dry eye

  • The effect of age and contact lens wear on the inflammatory status of the cornea

  • Investigation of resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to antimicrobials and contact lens disinfectants to explore survival of organisms in contact lens storage cases

  • Examining new ways of visualising tear film lipids using optical properties of quantum dots

  • iCare Track: measuring the appropriateness of eye care delivery in Australia

  • Pathogenic traits of S. aureus associated with keratitis

  • Ocular surface sensitivity

  • Development and characterisation of a 3D biofabricated meibomian gland

Supervision Opportunities/Areas

Please contact Professor Stapleton to find out more about research opportunities.

Research Groups

Research Topics

  • Contact lens related infection: epidemiology, microbiology and microbial pathogenesis, resistance to antimicrobials
  • Dry eye: contact lens wear, innervation and symptoms, sex hormones
  • Ocular surface disease: allergy, biomarkers, diabetes, keratoconus, obesity and nutrition
  • Ocular therapeutics and drug delivery
  • Tear film biochemistry, ocular homeostasis and pathology
  • Functionalised nanoparticles as contrast agents for bio-imaging
  • Quality of eye care, evidence-based practice, health systems research

 


My Research Supervision


Areas of supervision

Contact lenses

Corneal infection

Dry eye

Ocular surface

Ocular microbiology

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Location

Room 3.054, Level 3, Rupert Myers Building, North Wing

Contact

+61 2 9385 4375
+61 2 9313 6243