PhD Candidate

Research Title Development of ocular surface disease (OSD) specific item bank to measure quality of life parameters.

Supervisors SHARP Professor Konrad Pesudovs

Co-Supervisors Scientia Professor Fiona Stapleton, Dr Sheela Kumaran

Research

The ocular surface functions to create a clear optical image and protect the structures of the eye against microbes, trauma, and toxins. The ocular surface diseases (OSDs) represent a spectrum of diseases that affect the surface of the eyes. OSDs are one of the very common reasons for patients’ visits to eye clinics. The symptoms of OSDs may compromise an individual’s visual function and quality of life (QoL).

The assessment of QoL in terms of patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) has been increasingly accepted in clinical research including studies for understanding treatment efficacies. PROMs are standardized, validated survey questionnaires that are completed by the patients to inform and measure the entire impact of a disease and its treatment on a person. The available PROMs for OSDs generally lack in their validity and comprehensiveness. They largely only measure symptoms, and we know there are more than a dozen other domains of ophthalmic QoL. Some of these are likely important in OSDs. The aim of this research is to develop a technologically advanced and psychometrically robust PROM to measure the entire impact of a range of OSDs.

Biography

Pawan is an Optometrist and public health practitioner focused on international development. He has held positions in clinical, academia, research, leadership, and management in community hospitals, private, universities and international not for profit organizations. He has extensive experience in training allied eye health professionals, programme development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Education

2022- present PhD in Optometry, UNSW, Sydney Australia

2018- Master of Public Health, Salus University, Pennsylvania, USA

2009- B.Sc Optometry, SCSVMV, India

Awards

University International Postgraduate Award for PhD at UNSW, Sydney

Honours Summa Cum Laude, Salus University

Best Optometry student for years 2005-2009, SCSVMV, India