Konrad Pesudovs currently works as an independent ophthalmic researcher and a consultant in research and optometric education. From 2009-2017 he was the Foundation Chair of Optometry and Vision Science at Flinders University where he was responsible for developing and operationalising the optometry program. Prior to that he was an Associate Professor in Ophthalmology at Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia. He also currently serves as the President of the Australian College of Optometry. He has published over 250 papers regarding sight and quality of life, received over 30,000 citations and given over 200 conference presentations. He has won several international awards, the latest being International Optometrist of the Year for 2018.

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 Jyoti Khadka 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. 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: The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study; and The Swedish National Cataract Register.

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.