College of Optometrists

Abstract:

Every day 3000 people worldwide die as a result of a road traffic collision, and many more are severely injured. The estimated annual cost of such death and injury is $500 million. Task analyses have estimated that 90% of the information that the driver uses is visual, yet the evidence that low-level measures of vision relate to crash liability is limited. This talk looks at higher-order measures of vision, including eye movement patterns, to understand why traffic collisions occur. Eye movement strategies are developed by drivers through training and experience. While increased driving experience often improves visual skills and strategies, there are specific situations when experienced drivers might be the most vulnerable. This talk will focus on how safe drivers spot hazards, and on those occasions when even looking directly at a hazard is not enough to perceive it (a Look But Fail To See error).

Learning objectives:

• Have knowledge of low-level vision in relation to driving
• Understand the problems in using low-level vision to predict driving crash liability
• Be aware of higher-order visual skills in the prediction of crash liability
• Understand how these higher-order skills develop with driving experience
• Identify those situations when even experienced drivers’ visual skills might fail

Biography:

David Crundall gained his PhD in psychology in 1999, investigating the visual skills of drivers and their relationship with crash liability. He has undertaken research of behalf of the DfT, the DSA, the Institute of Advanced Motorists, VOSA, the Highways Agency, UK Research Councils, and a number of commercial sponsors. He has published over 60 articles on a wide range of psychological topics though most are devoted to his specialism of driving psychology, and has presented his research at conferences and to specialised audiences around the world. In addition to research, he teaches the psychology of driving at both the University of Nottingham and Cranfield University. He recently spearheaded the development of the Nottingham Integrated Transport and Environment Simulation facility (NITES). The facility contains two driving simulators, a bicycle simulator, an environment simulator and an instrumented vehicle for on-road testing. Both the simulators and the on-road vehicle contain eye tracking systems, while the facility also houses equipment for testing acuity, contrast sensitivity, colour perception, depth perception, perimetry, and the Useful Field of View. As the Director of NITES, Crundall is now in-charge of the most sophisticated testing facility for driving behaviour in the UK, and his research group are challenging the top centres in Europe for pre-eminence.

Abstract:

Ocular tumours are rare and diverse, with many being life-threatening or associated with lethal syndromes. The most common tumours in adults are: melanoma; naevus; haemangioma and metastasis. Early detection and treatment greatly enhance any opportunities for conserving vision and saving life. Much depends on how patients are managed by their optometrist when they present with symptoms or for their regular check-up. Optometrists are also well placed to contribute to the long-term care of patients after their treatment has been completed. In view of the important role that they play in ocular oncology, optometrists need to have some knowledge of the subject and should also know where they can quickly find information when they need it. This presentation will describe the most common and serious ocular tumours as well as their clinical features, differential diagnosis and treatment. There will also be a rhetorical diagnostic quiz, pearls and pitfalls in patient care, and advice on referring patients safely and on providing long-term care after treatment.

Learning objectives:

• Detect ocular tumours in adults
• Diagnose the major tumour types
• Manage patients appropriately when an ocular tumour is suspected
• Participate in the long-term follow-up of patients with an ocular tumour

Biography:

Bertil Damato is Lead Clinician of the Liverpool Ocular Oncology Centre, which he established in 1993 and which receives approximately 700 new patients from all over the British Isles and overseas. About 250-300 of these patients have ocular melanoma. Professor Damato’s main research interests include: genetics of uveal melanoma; multivariate prognostication; quality of life studies; development and evaluation of therapeutic methods for ocular melanoma; and oculokinetic perimetry.