PhD Study : Developing a screening method for detection of strabismus in school children

Summary

More commonly known as a ‘squint’, strabismus is a misalignment of the eyes, preventing the ability to focus both upon a single point, thus interfering with binocular sight. Since its identification, it has become a commonly identified ophthalmic condition affecting between 2 – 5% of children of pre-school age, and approximately 5% of children overall. The condition can lead to a range of subsequent conditions, the most common of which being amblyopia (lazy eye), if the misalignment is left untreated. Intermittent diplopia (double vision) may also present in cases of acute strabismus, causing the image from the affected, deviating eye to become blurred. In the case of a well-established squint, most commonly found in children, the image from the deviating eye is suppressed by the brain so as to produce a single-vision image.

Due to the difficulty in achieving binocular vision, one’s ability to focus on near objects is significantly impacted, with the likelihood of asthenopia (eye strain) becoming greatly increased. It is generally accepted that due to the elastic nature of the developing nervous system of a child, diagnosis and treatment at an early stage of life will result in a greater likelihood of curing both strabismus and amblyopia. Currently, a person with suspected strabismus must be assessed by an optician or in a specialist ophthalmology department. In severe cases, strabismus can usually be easily identified by the obvious misalignment of the eyes, however in minor cases the symptoms may not present as obviously.

Therefore, it may prove beneficial to incorporate a method of detection into routine screening of pre-school and primary school children, enabling detection of strabismus with approximate values outlining the probability and severity of the condition where detected. This would enable an operator with minimal training to assess a group of people with relative ease and speed, referring individuals deemed to be displaying potential symptoms. As the cells responsible for pupil constriction are not sensitive to wavelengths of light in the visibile spectrum, infrared imaging techniques are routinely used in ocular examination procedures. A possible detection method has been devised and possible hardware identified based upon this principle.

The candidate will be involved in development of concepts, as well as experimental procedures and establishment of training models. The work will span biomedical, electronic and computing disciplines, encompassing the translation of ideas to development board and onto a working prototype.

The aim of the project is to replicate the manual occlusion method using an automated electronic approach, whilst greatly improving accuracy and thus the probability of diagnosis.

Further investigation is required to establish the feasibility of the hardware approach, with an opportunity for applying the principles on which it relies to the development of a mobile application. It is expected that incorporation of the proposed approach into standardised testing would not only decrease the number of cases potentially being overlooked, but also reduce costs, as an eye care professional would not have to be present to carry out the preliminary screening.

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.

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

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.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

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