PhD Study : Healthy bodies, healthy eyes? Quantifying the impact of modern lifestyles on children’s eye health.

Summary

The WHO has identified childhood obesity, resulting from imbalance between diet and exercise, as a serious 21st Century public health challenge. Concurrently, modern children’s lifestyles are promoting an unprecedented rise in short-sight (myopia) across the world. Ulster’s Northern Ireland Childhood Errors of Refraction (NICER) study has demonstrated that prevalence amongst UK teenagers has more than doubled in the last 50 years and is appearing in children at younger ages. This is alarming because myopia is strongly linked with sight-threatening diseases such as glaucoma and maculopathy, and the younger myopia occurs, the larger the magnitude of myopia that will subsequently develop and the greater the likelihood of future vision impairment. Rising levels of myopia will impose increasing costs on both the individual and healthcare services in the UK unless strategies are introduced to reduce the number of children becoming myopic.

However, before such strategies can be developed a better understanding is needed of the factors which promote the excessive eye growth characterising myopia. An individual’s risk for myopia is influenced by genetic factors (ethnicity, parental history of myopia). Eye shape in early childhood may also influence onset/progression of myopia. These myopigenic features are not amenable to modification. However, recent studies have identified environmental/lifestyle factors which influence myopia, including protective factors (spending time outdoors) and factors that increase risk for myopia (sedentary lifestyles, increased time spent reading).

To-date, these modifiable risk factors have primarily been assessed using self-report, rather than objective measurement. Robust quantitative data describing the inter-relationship between myopia, time spent outdoors, physical activity, reading, and other near vision activities (e.g. tablet/smartphone use) are not available for UK/Irish children.  We will use a cross-sectional design based on the NICER sampling framework to identify myopic/non-myopic children (12-13yrs) and younger children (6-7yrs) at high/low risk of future myopia. Refractive error, eye shape and genetic factors will be recorded. Modern ‘wearable’ devices will be used to objectively quantify participants’ exposure to outdoor light, physical activity (both using Phillips Actigraph) and near vision activities (using Clouclip). These measures will allow us to establish robust UK-specific data on which to base anti-myopia strategies and public health advice. Such strategies/advice may ultimately benefit both eye and physical health.

This project involves strategic collaboration between Ulster University’s Optometry and Vision Science Research Group and the Sports Science Research Institute, who have extensive expertise in quantification of activity. Applicants should be optometrists registered with the General Optical Council, or able to register with the General Optical Council within six months of commencing the project. They need access to a car and a full UK driving license.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• Sound understanding of subject area as evidenced by a comprehensive research proposal
• A comprehensive and articulate personal statement

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• First Class Honours (1st) Degree
• Masters at 65%
• Completion of Masters at a level equivalent to commendation or distinction at Ulster
• Research project completion within taught Masters degree or MRES
• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
• Work experience relevant to the proposed project
• Publications - peer-reviewed
• Experience of presentation of research findings

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living