Eye health research in Essex
The eye health research in Essex theme aims to reduce the risk and impact of blindness and improve eye health inequality by working with community and primary care partners in research and training, and assessing their impact on people who are most at risk of blindness, or have lost their vision.
Our people
Our researchers are based in the Vision and Eye Research Institute (VERI) and Centre for Inclusive Community Eye Health.
- Prof Shahina Pardhan (Director of VERI)
- Dr Mapa Prabhath Piyasena (Deputy Director of VERI)
- Dr Raju Sapkota (Senior Research Fellow, VERI)
- Clare Strongman (Postdoctoral Research Fellow)
- Tarnjit Sehmbi (Postdoctoral Research Fellow)
- Dr Hugo Onumajuru (Research Assistant)
Key partnerships and collaborations
- Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board
- East of England partners
- NHS Trusts
- Primary care colleagues
- National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) East of England
Key projects
- Reducing eye health inequality due to diabetes within primary care (incorporating ARU Diabetic Retinopathy Awareness and Prevention Programme (ARUDRAPP))
- Reducing the risk of preventable blindness in those most at risk
- Reducing the risk of glaucoma in African and Afro-Caribbean communities
- Assessing the profile and barriers of people over the age of 60 who don’t attend their free eye examinations
- Raising awareness of the importance of eye examinations in those most at risk in areas where the rate of certificate of vision impairment is highest
- Exploring awareness of Charles Bonnet syndrome within primary care and Provide training
- Assessing the efficacy and patient experiences of patients attending community-based diagnostic hubs
- Explore the diagnostic capability of detecting referable eye disease in the community
- Various low vision projects to reduce the impact of vision loss