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Xiao Nicole Liu

Xiao Nicole Liu

PhD Candidate
Postgraduate Research Student
Medicine & Health
School of Optometry and Vision Science

Research Title: Circadian rhythm and myopia

Supervisor: Prof. Padmaja Sankaridurg 

Co-supervisor: A/Prof. Thomas John Naduvilath

 

Research

Abstract

Circadian dysregulations among myopic patients have been reported in many studies. Compared to non-myopes, myopes were found to have higher serum concentration of melatonin, delayed circadian timing, shorter sleep duration, and poorer sleep quality. Animal models with retinal specific clock gene knockouts were found to be prone to developing myopia. Meanwhile, several ocular parameters, such as intraocular pressure, choroidal thickness, and axial length, were reported to exhibit diurnal rhythms and a few of them differed with refractive error. Evidence suggesting a complex relationship between systemic and ocular circadian rhythms, and myopia development is mounting. This is of particular interest as it may offer new ideas for interpretation of previous myopia studies, as well as for future study designs. In order to clarify this relationship, studies looking into factors that can disturb systemic and/or ocular circadian rhythms and their associations with myopia are desired.

Biography

Nicole received her Bachelor of Clinical Medicine (Optometry and Ophthalmology) from Tianjin Medical University in China. She then obtained her Master of Optometry degree in 2012 at School of Optometry and Vision Science, UNSW. Since then she has been involved in clinical research and public health projects at Brien Holden Vision Institute. Her PhD journey commenced in March 2018, for which she has been awarded the inaugural Dr David Wilson Memorial Scholarship. In 2022, Nicole was awarded the ARVO travel grant and ISCLR travel grant for her research in circadian rhythm and myopia.

Education

2010-2012  Master of Optometry - School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Australia

2004-2009  Bachelor of Clinical Medicine (Optometry & Ophthalmology) - Tianjin Medical University, China

Awards

Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship

Dr David Wilson Memorial Scholarship

ARVO Travel Grant

ISCLR Travel Grant

 

Conference attendance

ARVO 2022 

ISCLR 2022
Email

xiao.liu1@unsw.edu.au

    1. Liu, X. N., Naduvilath, T. J., Wang, J., Xiong, S., He, X., Xu, X., & Sankaridurg, P. R. (2020). Sleeping late is a risk factor for myopia development amongst school-aged children in China. Scientific reports, 10(1), 17194. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-74348-7
    2. Liu, X. N., Naduvilath, T. J., & Sankaridurg, P. R. (2023). Myopia and sleep in children - a systematic review. Sleep, zsad162. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsad162