António Macedo
Professor of optometry
António Macedo studies topics related to the eye and vision, as well as epidemiology – that is, how prevalence and patterns of diseases within a population are mapped and described. His research includes studies on age-related macular degeneration and myopia in children. António’s work is often based on how patients themselves perceive their health and treatment, as well as their experiences with healthcare services.
FUNDS AWARDED SINCE 2019
SEK 9 million Funders: the Medical Research Council of Southeast Sweden, Ögonfonden/Synfrämjandets forskningsfond, Stiftelsen Kronprinsessan Margaretas Arbetsnämnd för synskadade
António Macedo strives to improve the effectiveness of existing treatments for eye diseases. This issue has become increasingly important in an ageing population.
– There’s a great need for knowledge about the treatment of different eye diseases. I want my research to reach the public and make a difference. Hopefully, our results can lead to more effective, safer, and cheaper treatments in the future, he says.
Deteriorating vision in older adults
António’s research focuses on eye diseases and their prevalence. In one research project, he is studying age-related macular degeneration, the most common cause of deteriorating vision in older adults.
Around 60 million people in Europe suffer from this incurable disease, and for the 10 per cent of these affected by its more severe form, repeated treatments are required to slow the progression of the disease. In the project, António aims to find out why some individuals respond better to the treatment.
– One hypothesis is that this is linked to the patient’s levels of certain cytokines, substances found in the blood. To investigate whether this is the case, we’ll follow a number of patients being treated for the disease in Kalmar County.
Other research projects António is involved in focus on glaucoma and the long-term effects of COVID-19 on vision. The common thread in his research is exploring how patients can be better helped by the medications or aids already available. There is significant potential for society to gain from more precise and effective treatment methods.
Helping with clinical decisions
Largest in Scandinavia
Linnaeus University is the leading educator in optometry and eye care in Scandinavia. Every year, around 100 students enrol in a bachelor’s or a master’s degree.
In recent years, the field has grown steadily. As a complement to the optometry bachelor programme, an online master programme was launched during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the autumn of 2023, an optometry programme was introduced in Gothenburg, where the need for optometrists is significant. The professorship in optometry then became the next step for the field at Linnaeus University.
– There are so many advantages to having a professorship, such as being able to develop the field and its research even further, says António Macedo.
– My results are about assisting with clinical decisions. I study different treatments and different factors in patients to provide knowledge about which treatment works best in different cases, António explains.
For instance, consider an eye disease treated with eye drops twice a day. The medication has been shown to be effective, yet many patients’ eyes do not improve. Why is that? It turns out that older patients are unable to administer the eye drops correctly; they miss the eye. In such cases, it does not matter how effective the medication is.
– This is a classic example of something that’s ‘easily fixed’ – but that can consume significant resources and cost society a lot if no one looks into the cause of the problem and why patients aren’t improving despite the medication.
Important research for an ageing population
Research on vision and eye diseases is becoming increasingly important in a society with a high proportion of elderly people. The groups of patients requiring treatment for different eye-related diseases are growing as we live longer.
– That’s why we need more research and resources to study how we can best help this group.
António’s research is conducted in collaboration with universities and academic institutions both nationally and internationally. Lund University, Linköping University, and Karolinska University Hospital are partners in Sweden; there are also fellow researchers in Norway and the United Kingdom. António sees great potential for continued research in collaboration with additional partners, including both companies and academic institutions.
– My dream is to create conditions for diverse research in optometry and eye care, ideally through increased national and international collaboration. Above all, I want to continue focusing on practical solutions to current problems that can easily improve healthcare in the field of eye care.