The College of Optometrists

In June of this year I completed my second year of the BSc Optometry course at the University of Bradford. For an eight-week period over the summer I have been working under the supervision of Professor David Elliott and Dr. John Buckley at the University, researching the effects of bifocal and varifocal wear on stair negotiation in the elderly.

 

My work over the summer has included performing visual function tests on elderly volunteers (visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, stereopsis), assisting with the set-up and running of clinical trials and calculating logMar VA scores over a range of viewing distances.

 

I have used an AMTI OR6-7 force platform and its associated software to collect and process ground reaction force data and worked with excel spreadsheets.

The research has enhanced my interest in the relationship between vision and biomechanics, and I have been made aware of the breadth of research possibilities associated within the field of optometry.

 

This has been a great opportunity for me to consolidate the information that I learnt in my first and second years and put it into practice in a clinical/research setting.  I have had the chance to see how research is conducted and speak to people involved and to obtain their views on a career in research.

 

I have found the last eight weeks interesting on many levels, challenging and rewarding.  I am looking forward to the possibility of seeing a final report on the subject matter and knowing that, in a small way, I was involved in the research behind it.  I feel encouraged to apply for future research scholarships that become available, and would recommend research to my peers as a possible career opportunity.

 

Research by: Lee Street, Bradford University