Konrad Pesudovs

Konrad’s current appointment is as Associate Professor and Deputy Director of the NH&MRC Centre for Clinical Eye Research at Flinders Medical Centre and Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia. His main research interest is ophthalmology outcomes research; incorporating optical, visual and patient-centred measurement into the holistic measurement of outcomes in ophthalmology. A key element of this is the development of patient-centred measures including visual disability, quality of life and other latent traits using Rasch analysis. This method provides for improved internal consistency and measurement precision thus facilitating more effective outcomes research. Instruments for the measurement of visual disability in cataract, and quality of life in refractive correction have been developed and instruments for quality of life in keratoconus and corneal transplantation, low vision care, patient satisfaction and pain measurement are under development. Also in development is an item bank for visual disability measurement in ophthalmology. Post-doctoral Fellow Vijaya Gothwal is currently working on this project.

Konrad’s other key area of research is in the optics of the eye and visual performance. Current research includes identifying optical quality metrics predictive of visual performance in eye disease. Student Katja Ulrich is working in this area. Konrad has had four PhD student completions.

Konrad is a part of the Eye and Vision Collaborative Group at Flinders University which aims to improve outcomes for patients with blinding eye conditions affecting our community. More information is available at Eye & Vision Collaborative Group. He is involved in a number of international collaborations: A joint FDA/NEI/AAO/ ASCRS multicentre study into patient-reported outcomes for laser refractive surgery; the Veneto Waiting List Project (Local Health Authorities of the Province of Padova, Italy); The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study; and a NASA panel to look at the viability of refractive surgery correction for spaceflight.

Prior to returning to Flinders University in late 2004, Konrad worked for two years with Prof Ray Applegate at the Visual Optics Institute of the University of Houston. This work concentrated on the measurement of the optics of the eye in cataract, keratoconus and normal eyes. Prior to that Konrad spent two years with Prof David Elliott at the University of Bradford working on potential vision measures, and outcomes measures for refractive surgery. This appointment was funded by a National Health and Medical Research Council (Australian Government) Sir Neil Hamilton Fairley Fellowship.

Konrad has collaborated widely in areas such as contact lens and psychophysics research, but chiefly his work has been in outcomes research; this has included corneal graft, refractive surgery and contact lens wear outcomes research, but the majority of work has been in cataract surgery outcome. His PhD thesis included looking at the factors influencing patient satisfaction after cataract surgery using path analysis, the development of a questionnaire for the assessment of visual disability and studies of vision in cataract which has led to a new method for predicting visual performance after cataract surgery.

Konrad graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1990 and spent two years in a specialty contact lens practice before joining the Department of Ophthalmology at Flinders University where he completed a PhD in 2000. During his PhD studies he also ran a private optometric practice in Glenelg, South Australia. However, he now works full-time in research.

Some of his published papers are available here under Publications for easy reference.

To contact Konrad by email, just click on the Contact button.

Garland Clay Award, 2009. This award is given by the Academy to the author or authors of the manuscript published in Optometry and Vision Science that has been most widely cited in the world of scientific literature in the preceding five years and by the vote of the Editorial Board of Optometry & Vision Science. Awarded by the American Academy of Optometry.

Irvin M. and Beatrice Borish Award, 2008. This award is given by the Academy to provide public recognition for an individual who has demonstrated exceptional promise to conduct independent optometric research directly related to etiology, prevention, detection, diagnosis, or management of clinical eye disorders. Awarded by the American Academy of Optometry.

Young Tall Poppy Science Award, South Australia, 2007-2008. Awarded by the Australian Institute of Policy Science to outstanding young Australian researchers each year in different states, the award recognises and celebrates Australian scientific and intellectual excellence. The Tall Poppy is a metaphor for excellence and endeavour, symbolizing Australia's pride in outstanding achievers in all fields.

Waring Medal, 2006. Awarded by the Journal of Refractive Surgery for the paper: Pesudovs K, Garamendi E, Elliott DB. A quality of life comparison of people wearing spectacles, contact lenses or having undergone refractive surgery. J Refract Surg 2006;22:19-27.

Peter-Abel Preis, 2006. Awarded by Die Vereinigung Deutscher Contactlinsen-Spezialisten e.V. (VDC) for the paper: Marsack JD, Parker KE, Pesudovs K, Donnelly WJ III, Applegate RA. Uncorrected wave-front error and visual performance during RGP wear in Keratoconus.

Best Free Paper Presentation, 7th International Congress of Wavefront Sensing and Optimized Refractive Corrections, Paradise Island, Bahamas, 29 January, 2006.

J Lloyd Hewitt Award, 1994. Awarded by Clinical and Experimental Optometry (Australian Optometrical Association) for the paper: Pesudovs K. Terriens marginal degeneration: case reports and literature review. Clin Exp Optom 1994; 77: 97-104.

1992-1996 Councillor, The Australian Optometrical Association (SA Div).
1993-1995 Junior Vice President, The Australian Optometrical Association (SA Div).
1995-1996 Senior Vice President, The Australian Optometrical Association (SA Div).
1993-2000 Councillor, Contact Lens Society of Australia (SA Chapter).
1994-1996 President, Contact Lens Society of Australia (SA Chapter).