Faculty: Science and Engineering
Supervisors: Dr Yvonne Norgett; Dr Monika Formankiewicz
Location: Cambridge
Apply online by 16 March 2025Ambylopia, or 'lazy eye', affects up to 4% of the population and without adequate screening, can go undetected. Amblyopia results in poor vision in one eye, loss of stereopsis (3D vision) and other deficits of visual function, such as poor fixation and eye movements and impaired spatial localisation and distance estimation as well as difficulty in distinguishing an object from its surroundings (visual crowding).
Children with amblyopia can struggle with motor skills proficiency and reduced academic, social and athletic ability have been reported; adults with amblyopia have reported concern for the safety of their better eye as well as activity limitations, such as use of stairs.
Measurement of vision using a letter or picture chart is the main screening tool for amblyopia. Recent research has shown that an ideal vision chart to detect amblyopia would have features that maximise visual crowding, such as closely spaced letters (or pictures) in an array of other similar letters (or pictures). However, such a chart would present a difficult task to a young child and may not appear interesting or appealing.
This PhD aims to design and validate a vision chart, to be presented digitally, which optimises crowding features, but also maintains testability in children as young as four years old. The new chart will be developed, then piloted in a group of adults and validated against the gold standard EDTRS chart before data collection in groups of children with normal and defective vision.
This PhD extends the longstanding research into visual crowding carried out within the research group. The candidate will gain experience in paediatric vision assessment, creation of digital charts as well as a range of research methodologies and data analysis. Preference will be given to applicants who are GOC-registered optometrists.
If you would like to discuss this research project, please contact Dr Yvonne Norgett: [email protected]
Apply online by 16 March 2025The successful applicant for this project will receive a Vice Chancellor’s PhD Scholarship which covers the tuition fees and provides a UKRI equivalent minimum annual stipend for three years. For 2024/5 this was £19,237 per year. The award is subject to the successful candidate meeting the scholarship terms and conditions. Please note that the University asserts the right to claim any intellectual property generated by research it funds.
Download the 2024/5 terms and conditions (2025/6 terms and conditions TBC)