Eyes on the Future: Establishing an Extended Evidence-base for Myopia Management

Summary

The prevalence of myopia is increasing worldwide, with onset occurring at progressively younger ages.

This is worrying given the relationship between early onset and higher, sight-threatening magnitudes of myopia in later life.

A key component of the response to this global challenge has been defined by the World Council of Optometry as ‘mitigation’ - the application of prophylactic interventions to delay the onset of myopia.

These interventions include behaviour and lifestyle modification, light and pharmacological therapies and optical strategies.

To initiate mitigating intervention requires early identification of children at risk of future myopia (pre-myopes).

Risk stratification tools for this purpose have recently become available – using biometrics including age, refractive error, axial length, and parental history of myopia to support eye care practitioners (ECPs) in identifying children most at risk.

However, normative data for axial length and refractive error are currently not available for children under six years old, thus restricting the utility of existing tools to children/young adults aged 6-18 years.

This project will gather unique European data describing eye growth in pre-/early school-aged children (3-6 years) and outcomes will be used to further hone clinical guidance and decision-making tools for ECPs.

The data will be combined with currently published ocular growth charts available within the PreMO risk stratification app (a free cloud-based UKCA and CE-marked application developed by the research team at Ulster University https://myopiaonset.com) to extend its utility to 3-18 years.

The study will also determine the prevalence of pre-myopia and establish baselines measures of ocular biometry for a prospective cohort study.

This is a unique opportunity for a GOC-registered optometrist to engage in clinically focused, population-based research. Applicants must hold a valid UK driver license.

Important Information: Applications for more than one PhD studentship are welcome, however if you apply for more than one PhD project within Biomedical Sciences, your first application on the system will be deemed your first-choice preference and further applications will be ordered based on the sequential time of submission.

If you are successfully shortlisted, you will be interviewed only on your first-choice application and ranked accordingly. Those ranked highest will be offered a PhD studentship.

In the situation where you are ranked highly and your first-choice project is already allocated to someone who was ranked higher than you, you may be offered your 2nd or 3rd choice project depending on the availability of this project.

The applicant should be an optometrist registered with the General Optical Council (UK) or with CORU (Ireland). If CORU registered, they should be willing and able to gain registration with the General Optical Council to undertake this project.

The applicant will need to have a valid UK driver license and access to a vehicle.

AccessNI clearance required

Please note, the successful candidate will be required to obtain AccessNI clearance prior to registration due to the nature of the project.

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
• Completion of Masters at a level equivalent to commendation or distinction at Ulster
• Practice-based research experience and/or dissemination
• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
• Work experience relevant to the proposed project
• Publications record appropriate to career stage

Equal Opportunities

The University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community, particularly from those with disabilities.

Appointment will be made on merit.

Funding and eligibility

This project is funded by:

• Department for the Economy (DfE)

This scholarship will cover tuition fees and provide a maintenance allowance of £21,000* (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).  A Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) of approximately £900 per annum is also available.

To be eligible for these scholarships, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a UK National, or

• Have settled status, or

• Have pre-settled status, or

• Have indefinite leave to remain or enter, or

• be an Irish National

Applicants should also meet the residency criteria which requires that they have lived in the EEA, Switzerland, the UK or Gibraltar for at least the three years preceding the start date of the research degree programme.

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.

*Part time PhD scholarships may be available, based on 0.5 of the full time rate, and will require a six year registration period