Dr Gemma Arblaster

BMedSci (Hons) Orthoptics, MSc, PhD, FHEA

School of Allied Health Professions, Pharmacy, Nursing and Midwifery

Deputy Professional Lead for Ophthalmology and Orthoptics

Lecturer in Orthoptics

Gemma Arblaster
Profile picture of Gemma Arblaster
g.arblaster@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 215 9055
Room 301a, 362 Mushroom Lane

Full contact details

Dr Gemma Arblaster
School of Allied Health Professions, Pharmacy, Nursing and Midwifery
Room 301a
362 Mushroom Lane
Sheffield
S10 2TS
Profile

I qualified as an Orthoptist in 2001 and during my career I have combined clinical orthoptics with teaching and research. I completed my PhD, funded by the NIHR, in 2021 researching the outcomes of strabismus surgery when undertaken for psychosocial reasons. 

I have been a Lecturer in Orthoptics at the University of Sheffield since 2011 and am currently the Deputy Professional Lead for Orthoptics and Ophthalmology. I maintain a clinical orthoptic role at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS FT. 

Qualifications

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2024)

PhD, University of Sheffield (2017–2021)

MSc Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science, UMIST (2001–2003)

BMedSci (Hons) Orthoptics 1st Class, University of Sheffield (1998–2001)

Research interests

My research interests are in orthoptics, strabismus, binocular vision, ocular motility, nystagmus, eye tracking and low vision. 

I supervise research projects for undergraduate (BMedSci Orthoptics) and postgraduate students (MMedSci Vision and Strabismus; MMedSci Ophthalmology Advance Clinical Practice (Paediatrics)), as well as PhD students.

Publications

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Research group

I have supervised undergraduate research project students and postgraduate research project students on the MMedSci (Vision & Strabismus) course.

Vision and Strabismus MMedSci and Ophthalmology ACP (Paediatrics) MMedSci students supervised to completion:

  • Tomos Harding Neale, Southampton, UK.
    • Visual field loss and rate of reading in stroke survivors.
  • Laura Hardwick, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS FT, UK
    • Developing Orthoptic practice in Thyroid Eye Disease
  • Kate Hon, King’s College Hospital Trust, UK
    • Paediatric quality of life after strabismus surgery
  • Emily Walker, Worcestershire Acute Hospital Trust, UK
    • Charles Bonnet Syndrome
  • Hareem Esmail, Newcastle, UK
    • The assessment of vision in children with learning difficulties
  • Jannicke Roe, Norway.
    • The opinions of Scandinavian Orthoptists - treating amblyopia in microtropia.
  • Rachel McKevitt, UK. 
    • Testing visual acuity in children at home.
  • Linda Groenveld, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
    • Quality of life after adult strabismus surgery.
  • Mahira Sheikh, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, UK.
    • Do the changes in visual acuity in children undergoing amblyopia therapy differ at near and distance?
  • Sarah Catherina Wittering, Utrecht, Netherlands.
    • Reading at Distance: Does using an Interactive Whiteboard affect reading performance?
  • Mohammed Maqsud, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals Trust.
    • Study to investigate the incidence and final visual outcomes of children with bilateral refractive amblyopia referred from routine vision screening.
  • Deborah Steel, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS FT, UK
    • Amblyopia treatment and quality of life: The child's perspective on atropine versus patching.
Teaching interests

My teaching interests are orthoptics, clinical orthoptics, strabismus, ocular motility, eye tracking and low vision. 

At undergraduate level I lead modules:

  • HES115 Anatomy and Physiology (Orthoptics)

  • HES116 Ocular Anatomy, Physiology and Neuroanatomy

  • HES340 Ophthalmology

At postgraduate level I lead the module:

  • HES427 Concomitance and Incomitance in Depth

For clinical examinations (orthoptics and ophthalmology) we invite volunteer patients to take part. If you are interested in taking part in our clinical examinations in the future, please contact the Patients as Educators team to discuss your suitability for our examinations. 

Professional activities and memberships
  • Member of the British and Irish Orthoptic Society
  • Editor in Chief of the British and Irish Orthoptic Journal
  • BIOS co-lead: Strabismus and Ocular Motility Clinical Advisory Group
  • Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.
  • Member of British Isles Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Association (BIPOSA)
  • BIPOSA membership secretary
  • Research advisor for Nystagmus Network (charity)
  • Member of the Nystagmus Network UK Research Group (NUKE)
  • Member of the International Society of Clinical Eye Tracking (ISCET)
  • Member of Women in Vision UK group

I currently practice as an Orthoptist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS FT. My previous clinical roles have been in Nottingham, Manchester and Cambridge.