Megan Vaughan

Megan is a lecturer and registered optometrist. Her primary research interest is the early detection of ocular diseases and conditions. She is particularly interested in innovation in eyecare, utilising devices to facilitate early disease detection, and patients' experiences.

megan.vaughan@aru.ac.uk

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Background

Megan joined the VHS team at ARU as a Lecturer in Optometry in 2022. Prior to this she worked in UCL and Moorfields Eye Hospital as a clinical research fellow under Dr Patterson, Prof Michaelides and Prof Barbur on the project Photoreceptors in Diabetic Retinopathy. Currently she leads the Introduction to Ocular Disease module for Optometry students and has taught at MSc and BSc levels at ARU and UCL previously.

Having studied Optometry, for which she achieved First Class Honours and was awarded the Association of Optometrist’s award, Megan qualified as a GOC-registered optometrist following her pre-registration period in Norfolk. She then began a Vice-Chancellor-funded PhD in our Vision and Eye Research Institute under the supervision of Prof Pardhan and Dr Tabernero.

Research interests

• Early detection of ocular diseases and conditions
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Glaucoma
• Psychophysics
• Colour vision
• Retinal imaging

Teaching

BOptom (Hons) Optometry:

• Introduction to Ocular Disease [module lead]
• Clinical Optometry 2: Skills for Optometric Practice
• Clinics supervisor

Qualifications

PhD ‘Factors affecting the post-illumination pupillary response: Implications for glaucoma’ [in progress]

Associate Fellow, Higher Education Academy
MCOptom
BOptom(Hons) Optometry

 

Memberships, editorial boards

• Member, The College of Optometrists
• Member, The Association of Optometrists
• Member, The General Optical Council
• Member, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
• Associate Fellow, Higher Education Academy

Selected recent publications

Vaughan M, Trott M, Sapkota R, Premi G & Pardhan S. Changes in 25‐hydroxyvitamin D levels post‐vitamin D supplementation in people of Black and Asian ethnicities and its implications during COVID‐19 pandemic: a systematic review. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. 2021

Pardhan S & Vaughan M. COVID-19 and its impact on eye care: a review. Optometry in Practice. 2021

Pardhan S, Wood S, Vaughan M, & Trott M. The Risk of COVID-19 Related Hospitalisation, Intensive Care Unit Admission and Mortality in People with Underlying Asthma or COPD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Medicine. 2021

Pardhan S, Vaughan M, Zhang J, Smith L, & Chichger H. Sore eyes as the most significant ocular symptom experienced by people with COVID-19: a comparison between pre- COVID-19 and during COVID-19 states. BMJ Open Ophthalmology. 2020

Recent presentations and conferences

Vaughan M, Tay N, Kane T, Kalitzeos A, Singh N, Zheng A, Rodriguez-Carmona M, Barbur J, Michaelides M, Patterson E. Structural and functional assessment of photoreceptors in healthy individuals. ARVO 2022. College of Optometrists Travel Grant

Vaughan M, Kalitzeos A, Kane T, Singh N, Nicholson L, Pal B, Rodriguez-Carmona M, Barbur J, Michaelides M, Patterson E. Structural and functional assessment of photoreceptors in diabetic retinopathy. ICVS 202t Winner of Oral Presentation Prize & Travel Grant

Vaughan M. Colour Vision, Adaptive Optics and Diabetic Retinopathy. 100% Optical - VECCTR 2022. Invited oral presentation

Vaughan M, Kalitzeos A, Kane T, Singh N, Nicholson L, Pal B, Rodriguez-Carmona M, Barbur J, Michaelides M, Patterson E. Structural and functional assessment of photoreceptors in diabetic retinopathy. IONS 2021 Winner of Oral Presentation Prize & Travel Grant for Lab Visits

Vaughan M, Kane T, Kalitzeos A, Singh N, Rodriguez-Carmona M, Barbur J, Michaelides M, Patterson E. Structural and functional assessment of photoreceptors in healthy individuals. Retina 2021

Vaughan M, Tabernero J, Pardhan S. Post Illumination Pupillary Responses (PIPR) to blue light in healthy people. ARU Research Student Conference 2021. Winner of Oral Presentation Prize

Vaughan M, Gantes-Nuñez J, Tabernero J, Pardhan S.The post-illumination pupillary response of dark and light irides. BCOVS 2020

Vaughan M, Gantes J, Tabernero J, Pardhan S. The post-illumination pupillary response of dark and light irides. ARVO 2020