
About me:
My research focuses on evidence-based eye care, eye care quality and health education. This research used both qualitative and quantitative methods to measure quality of eye care delivery, understanding of, attitude towards, and competence in evidence-based practice. Our multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional group has developed and adapted resources to support the use of evidence-based practice by optometry students and practitioners in Australia and New Zealand and across the world (www.eboptometry.com).
A parallel research focus has been on understanding the ocular surface in the healthy and diseased eye. This research uses a mix of the latest clinical and laboratory based techniques to investigate links between the environment and the ocular surface. We have applied these techniques to characterise the ocular surface during contact lens wear, in dry eye disease including meibomian gland dysfunction and ocular allergy.
This work has been funded through government (OLT), external (Diabetes Australia, MD Foundation), internal (UNSW) and industry funding and has supported 16 PhD students.
Education
MPH (UNSW, 2010)
Graduate Certificate in Ocular Therapeutics (UNSW, 2010)
PhD in Optometry (UNSW, 2004)
OD (University of Montreal, 1989)
RESEARCH
My Research Goals
Enhance the quality of eye care delivery nationally and internationally
Measure and promote evidence-based eye care with a focus on optometry
Understanding the ocular surface and factors that promote (e.g. diet) and adversely impact (e.g. lens wear, environment, aging) its health and homeostasis
Research in Detail
My group currently hosts eight graduate students, working on projects ranging from:
Appropriateness of eye care delivery
Addressing barriers to glaucoma and diabetic eye disease care
Neuroimmunology in ocular allergy
Environmental pollution and the ocular surface
Continuing Education in Optometry
Role of blinking in dry eye diagnosis and management
Impact of smartphone viewing on ocular surface
Current Student Projects (PhD, MSc and Honours)
Improving the appropriateness of glaucoma eye care delivery in Australia
Improving the appropriateness of diabetes eye care delivery in Australia
Myopia management strategies and their impact on the anterior eye
Evaluating Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Eye Care Practitioners and People with eye diseases and their carers
The role of dendritic cells in ocular allergy
Ocular surface and blinking in children
TEACHING & OUTREACH
Courses I teach
OPTM6413: Anterior Eye Therapeutics (https://www.handbook.unsw.edu.au/postgraduate/courses/2022/OPTM6413)
Professional affiliations and service positions
Deputy President, Optometry Council of New South Wales (2021-2024)
Member of Board of Directors and Chair of the Examination Committee of the Optometry Council of Australian and New Zealand (OCANZ) (2015-current)
Deputy Head of School at the School of Optometry and Vision Science (2011-2019)
Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (1999-current)
AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS
National Australian Award for University Teaching Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning, 2021
Vice-Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence, 2020
June Griffith Fellow, UNSW Faculty of Science, 2015
Garland W Clay Award, American Academy of Optometry, 2012
Dallos Award, British Contact Lens Association, 2011
Ian Constable Prize, 2002
Bourse d’Excellence, University of Montreal, 1985
Research Groups