Dr Gemma Arblaster
MSc, BMedSci (Hons) Orthoptics
Ophthalmology and Orthoptics, School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery
Lecturer
+44 114 215 9055
Full contact details
Ophthalmology and Orthoptics, School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery
The Medical School
Beech Hill Road
Sheffield
S10 2RX
- Profile
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I qualified as an Orthoptist in 2001 and during my career I have combined clinical Orthoptics with teaching and research. I completed my MSc in Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science in 2003 and joined the University of Sheffield as Lecturer in Orthoptics in 2011. I have practised as an Orthoptist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust since 2007.
- Research interests
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I am currently undertaking an NIHR Clinical Research Fellowship, combining research into strabismus with clinical and research training. My research project is: 'Measuring the effects of eye alignment surgery - a feasibility study'. The aim of the study is to determine whether it is feasible to measure changes in vision and task performance in patients who have had strabismus surgery for psychosocial benefit.
My other research interests include:
- Unilateral vertical nystagmus and ocular motor stability after monocular vision loss (the Heimann-Bielschowsky Phenomenon).
- Nystagmus - using virtual reality to simulate oscillopsia, raise awareness of nystagmus and improve the information given to patients with nystagmus.
- Occlusion to improve control in intermittent exotropia.
- Gross binocular single vision and new ways of quantifying binocular vision.
Current projects
- NIHR Clinical Research Fellowship: Measuring the effects of eye alignment surgery - a feasibility study.
- Simulating oscillopsia using virtual reality.
- Improving the information given to patients with nystagmus.
- Publications
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Journal articles
- Author Correction: Minimal reporting guideline for research involving eye tracking (2023 edition). Behavior Research Methods, 56(4), 4218-4219.
- Schizophrenia and Orthoptic Conditions: A Literature Review. British and Irish Orthoptic Journal, 20(1), 133-145.
- Strabismus Surgery for Psychosocial Reasons—A Literature Review. British and Irish Orthoptic Journal, 20(1), 107-132.
- The Assessment of Vision in Children with Severe Learning Difficulties: A Systematic Review. British and Irish Orthoptic Journal, 20(1), 94-104.
- Is there value in measuring near visual acuity during occlusion therapy for amblyopia?. Strabismus. View this article in WRRO
- Evaluation of the Nystagmus Information Pack. British and Irish Orthoptic Journal, 18(1), 111-120. View this article in WRRO
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals with nystagmus and an exploration of public assumptions about the condition: an electronic questionnaire study. BMC Ophthalmology, 22(1), 268.
- Is a depth camera in agreement with an electromagnetic tracking device when measuring head position?. British and Irish Orthoptic Journal, 17(1), 142-149.
- Analysing nystagmus waveforms: a computational framework. Scientific Reports, 11. View this article in WRRO
- Management of nystagmus in children : a review of the literature and current practice in UK specialist services. Eye, 34(9), 1515-1534.
- How does vertical reading affect reading speed?. British and Irish Orthoptic Journal, 16(1), 38-43. View this article in WRRO
- Correction: Management of nystagmus in children: a review of the literature and current practice in UK specialist services (Eye, (2020), 10.1038/s41433-019-0741-3). Eye (Basingstoke).
- Amblyopia treatment and quality of life: the child’s perspective on atropine versus patching. Strabismus. View this article in WRRO
- The Impact of Diplopia on Reading. British and Irish Orthoptic Journal, 15(1), 8-14. View this article in WRRO
- A case report of progressive Brown syndrome?. British and Irish Orthoptic Journal, 14(1), 30-34. View this article in WRRO
- The provision of patient information about nystagmus. British and Irish Orthoptic Journal, 14(1), 25-29. View this article in WRRO
- Surgery to Treat Residual Acquired Excyclotropia without Changing the Primary Position Vertical Deviation: A Case Report. Strabismus, 24(3), 93-96. View this article in WRRO
- A comparison of conventional and modified push-up methods of measuring the near point of accommodation. British and Irish Orthoptic Journal, 13, 22-28. View this article in WRRO
- The incidence and visual acuity outcomes of children identified with ametropic amblyopia by vision screening. Journal of American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, 19(2), 104-107.
- The BIOJ: Evolution or Revolution?. Br Ir Orthopt J, 10, 66-67.
- The BIOJ: a comparative review. Br I Orthopt J, 10, 3-10.
- Restoration of binocular single vision following multiple treatments for longstanding bilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia and unilateral 3rd nerve paresis. Br I Orthopt J, 9, 70-73.
- Decompensating esophoria as the presenting feature of myasthenia gravis.. J AAPOS, 13(3), 310-311.
- Large-angle congenital exotropia due to 'absent' medial recti: a case of congenital cranial dysinnervation disorder. Eye, 23(6), 1489-1490.
- The Relationship Between The Strength of Sensory Fusion and Motor Fusion Amplitude. Br Orthopt J, 59, 45-49.
- Opinions on Amblyopia Treatment in Microtropia – A Questionnaire Study of Orthoptists in Scandinavia. British and Irish Orthoptic Journal, 20.
- Patient perspectives on their outcomes from strabismus surgery undertaken for psychosocial reasons. Eye.
- Minimal reporting guideline for research involving eye tracking (2023 edition). Behavior Research Methods.
- Using VR to Investigate the Relationship between Visual Acuity and Severity of Simulated Oscillopsia. Current Eye Research, 1-8.
Conference proceedings papers
- View this article in WRRO What changes do patients report after strabismus surgery for planned psychosocial benefit?. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Vol. 60(9). Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 28 April 2019 - 2 May 2019.
- Retrospective Review of Occlusion Treatment for Intermittent Exotropia.. British Isles Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Association. Bournemouth, UK, 19 September 2012 - 21 September 2012.
- Acquired Unilateral Vertical Nystagmus. 30th Meeting of the European Strabismological Association. Killarney, Ireland, 8 June 2005 - 11 June 2005.
- Eye movements - isn't that what we do anyway?. Royal College of Ophthalmologists Congress. Birmingham, UK, 17 May 2005.
- The Heimann Bielschowsky Phenomenon: Unilateral Vertical Nystagmus. British Ocular Motor Group. Manchester, UK, 9 January 2004.
- The Heimann-Bielschowsky Phenomenon: An Acquired Unilateral Vertical Nystagmus Following Severe Monocular Visual Loss.. Transactions of the Xth International Orthoptic Congress. (pp 265-269). Melbourne, Australia, 14 November 2004 - 17 November 2004.
- Case presentation: a child with congenital bilateral restriction of ADDuction - investigations, diagnosis and management.. British Childrens Eye Group. Manchester, UK, 6 June 2003.
Software / Code
Posters
- Low cost nystagmus recording: a pilot study. British and Irish Orthoptic Society Conference.
- What changes do patients report after strabismus surgery for planned psychosocial benefit?.
- Patients as Educators - Enhancing Student Skills and the Curriculum. International Orthoptic Congress.
- How can the patient experience for individuals with nystagmus be improved? - a patient and family perspective. British and Irish Orthoptic Society Annual Conference.
- Living with Nystagmus-The Patient's Perspective. British and Irish Orthoptic Society Annual Conference.
- Measuring the near point of accommodation: comparison of the conventional and modified push-up methods.. British and Irish Orthoptic Society Annual Conference.
- Retrospective Review of Occlusion Treatment for Intermittent Exotropia.. XIIth International Orthoptic Congress, Toronto, Canada..
Other
Preprints
- Patient perspectives on their outcomes from strabismus surgery undertaken for psychosocial reasons, Research Square Platform LLC.
- Research group
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I have supervised undergraduate research project students and postgraduate research project students on the MMedSci (Vision & Strabismus) course.
MMedSci students supervised to completion:
- 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, The 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 Steele, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
- Amblyopia treatment and quality of life: The child's perspective on atropine versus patching.
- Mahira Sheikh, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, UK.
- Teaching interests
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My teaching interests are orthoptics, clinical orthoptics, eye movements, strabismus and low vision. I have taught Orthoptics and Clinical Orthoptics to undergraduate students on the BMedSci (Orthoptics) course. I have also taught on the Low Vision module of the MMedSci (Vision & Strabismus) course.
For clinical examinations 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
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I currently practice as an Orthoptist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
My previous clinical Orthoptic experience includes roles at:
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust - lead clinical tutor and extended Orthoptic role assessing post operative strabismus patients
- Manchester Royal Eye Hospital
- Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge
- Member of the British & Irish Orthoptic Society
- Registered with the Health & Care Professions Council