Elisa Wang

Research Title: Attitudes and Barriers to Care in Age-Related Macular Degeneration (The ABCs of AMD).

Supervisors: Assoc. Prof. Gordon S. Doig, Prof. Michael Kalloniatis, and Dr. Angelica Ly

Research Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss in Australia and worldwide. There are many interventions available to reduce the risk of developing AMD or the risk of progressing to a later disease stage. Health literacy is an essential skill to ensure that people with AMD can understand and manage their condition. However, most patients with AMD have inadequate health literacy. Eye care practitioners may also encounter barriers when providing AMD care. Thus, there is a need for an evidence-based education program for patients with AMD to improve their health literacy.

My research aims to understand the attitudes and barriers to care for patients with AMD, and to develop and evaluate an educational program to improve patients’ attitudes towards appropriate AMD care.

Education

B Optom/B Sc (Hons), UNSW (2018)

Biography

Elisa graduated from UNSW Sydney in 2018 with a Bachelor of Optometry and a Bachelor of Science (Honours). She has since worked in clinical practice in Sydney. She is currently pursuing a PhD on improving health literacy with respect to age-related macular degeneration at the Centre for Eye Health.

Memberships and Affiliations

Optometry Australia

Young Optometrists NSW/ACT