COMiB was constituted in 2015 at the Department of Materials Science to create a link between the academic world and the productive activities integrated throughout the national territory.
The main objective is to coordinate and develop new studies and research in optics, optometry, and all the fields related to the world of vision, thanks to the contribution of experts with different skills.
The main activities of the Center can be divided in four areas of expertise:
Optics, optometry, contact lenses, visual perception
The clinical area covers research in the fields of optics, optometry, contact lenses, and visual perception including:
- development of new optometric tests;
- studies on visual function and ocular media;
- development of techniques for the analysis of ocular characteristics;
- characterization of new products to be put on the market in the areas of interest of the Center;
- research in the field of pediatric optometry, to be conducted together with the structures involved in the study of children’s visual problems in collaboration with the Department of Psychology and Educational Science;
- research in the areas of geriatric optometry in collaboration with the Department of Psychology and low vision and development of technical compensation solutions;
- collaboration with clinics and hospital health facilities for the in-depth study of problems relating to the vision, materials, instruments, and procedures used in the areas of interest of the Center.
Screening and visual analysis
This area covers screenig and visual analysis, also in collaboration with external and with researchers from other disciplines such as Social Sciences, Psychology, Medicine, and Statistics, also in the context of existing collaborations. Some activities are the following:
- carry out visual analyses in collaboration with the University Occupational Medicine;
- provide a service to the area where the Center is located;
- collaborate with public and private entities for screening and visual analysis on the population;
- collaborate with companies for visual analyses on specific categories of subjects.
Materials science, optics and spectroscopy, optical and computer systems, methods and procedures for optics, optometry, ophthalmology
The involvement of the Department of Materials Science has proved essential over the previous five years for skills in the field of optics and materials, in the use of advanced instrumentation both for the study and characterization of materials and for visual investigations. Furthermore, the Department has significant experience in the synthesis of both inorganic and organic materials with specific optical properties. Equally important were the collaborations with professors and researchers from other departments of the University, such as the Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences and the Department of Psychology.
Examples of activities are the following:
- carry out research activities in the field of imaging applied to the optical, optometric, ophthalmological, ophthalmic, and contact lens sectors. We intend to develop innovative optical systems for diagnostic purposes and for the visualization of ocular structures, from the cornea to the retina, including augmented reality stereoscopic systems even at high magnification;
- carry out research activities in the fields of photometry, colorimetry, spectroscopy, microscopy to develop and characterize materials and instrumentation with applications in the fields of ophthalmic lenses, contact lenses, and vision science in general;
- carry out research activities in the field of chemical synthesis and chemistry of materials for applications in contact lenses, ophthalmic lenses, and instrumentation for optical, optometric, and ophthalmological use;
- carry out research activities in the field of ocular biology and physiology, in particular with investigations on the properties of the tear film and the anterior segment of the eye, also with in vitro cell models;
- study photosensitive and biocompatible materials for the realization of retinal prostheses and investigate phototransduction processes at the interface between organic semiconductors and living cells;
- study the application of nanoparticles and bioactive molecules and drugs, which can be absorbed and released by contact lenses.
Education
The Center proposes itself as a reference for the preparation and internship activities of students of the Degree Course in Optics and Optometry and of Study Programs in areas of interest of the Center, also in collaboration with companies and / or associations in the sector. Furthermore, the Center organizes basic training, advanced training, and professional updating activities for external opticians and optometrists, using its own teaching facilities and laboratories, also in collaboration with companies.