Dr Gemma Arblaster

MSc, BMedSci (Hons) Orthoptics

Ophthalmology and Orthoptics, School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery

Lecturer

g.arblaster@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 215 9055

Full contact details

Dr Gemma Arblaster
Ophthalmology and Orthoptics, School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery
The Medical School
Beech Hill Road
Sheffield
S10 2RX
Profile

I qualified as an Orthoptist in 2001 and during my career I have combined clinical Orthoptics with teaching and research.  I completed my MSc in Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science in 2003 and joined the University of Sheffield as Lecturer in Orthoptics in 2011. I have practised as an Orthoptist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust since 2007.

Research interests

I am currently undertaking an NIHR Clinical Research Fellowship, combining research into strabismus with clinical and research training.  My research project is:  'Measuring the effects of eye alignment surgery - a feasibility study'.  The aim of the study is to determine whether it is feasible to measure changes in vision and task performance in patients who have had strabismus surgery for psychosocial benefit. 

My other research interests include:

  • Unilateral vertical nystagmus and ocular motor stability after monocular vision loss (the Heimann-Bielschowsky Phenomenon).
  • Nystagmus - using virtual reality to simulate oscillopsia, raise awareness of nystagmus and improve the information given to patients with nystagmus.
  • Occlusion to improve control in intermittent exotropia.
  • Gross binocular single vision and new ways of quantifying binocular vision.

Current projects

  • NIHR Clinical Research Fellowship: Measuring the effects of eye alignment surgery - a feasibility study.
  • Simulating oscillopsia using virtual reality.
  • Improving the information given to patients with nystagmus.
Publications

Journal articles

Conference proceedings papers

  • Arblaster G, Davis H, Buckley D & Barnes S (2019) What changes do patients report after strabismus surgery for planned psychosocial benefit?. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Vol. 60(9). Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 28 April 2019 - 2 May 2019. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Arblaster G & Hughes LA (2012) Retrospective Review of Occlusion Treatment for Intermittent Exotropia.. British Isles Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Association. Bournemouth, UK, 19 September 2012 - 21 September 2012. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hocking GE (2005) Acquired Unilateral Vertical Nystagmus. 30th Meeting of the European Strabismological Association. Killarney, Ireland, 8 June 2005 - 11 June 2005. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hocking GE (2005) Eye movements - isn't that what we do anyway?. Royal College of Ophthalmologists Congress. Birmingham, UK, 17 May 2005. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hocking GE & Abadi RV (2004) The Heimann Bielschowsky Phenomenon: Unilateral Vertical Nystagmus. British Ocular Motor Group. Manchester, UK, 9 January 2004. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hocking GE & Abadi RV (2004) The Heimann-Bielschowsky Phenomenon: An Acquired Unilateral Vertical Nystagmus Following Severe Monocular Visual Loss.. Transactions of the Xth International Orthoptic Congress. (pp 265-269). Melbourne, Australia, 14 November 2004 - 17 November 2004. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hocking GE, Biswas S & Lloyd IC (2003) Case presentation: a child with congenital bilateral restriction of ADDuction - investigations, diagnosis and management.. British Childrens Eye Group. Manchester, UK, 6 June 2003. RIS download Bibtex download

Software / Code

  • Randall D, Griffiths H, Bjerre A & Arblaster GE (2016) Nystagmus Oscillopsia Simulator. RIS download Bibtex download

Posters

  • Arblaster G, Randall D, Rhodes M & Nicola M (2023) Low cost nystagmus recording: a pilot study. British and Irish Orthoptic Society Conference. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Arblaster G, Davis H, Buckley D & Barnes S (2019) What changes do patients report after strabismus surgery for planned psychosocial benefit?. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Arblaster G, Griffiths HJ & Bjerre A (2016) Patients as Educators - Enhancing Student Skills and the Curriculum. International Orthoptic Congress. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Arblaster G, Bjerre A, Griffiths HJ, Fox S, Burchell VJ & Kerekes F (2015) How can the patient experience for individuals with nystagmus be improved? - a patient and family perspective. British and Irish Orthoptic Society Annual Conference. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Arblaster G, Griffiths HJ, Bjerre A, Coughlan A, Darly L, Gibbings N, Mather F, McCourtney R, OBriain F & Robertson D (2015) Living with Nystagmus-The Patient's Perspective. British and Irish Orthoptic Society Annual Conference. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Arblaster G & Esmail HE (2015) Measuring the near point of accommodation: comparison of the conventional and modified push-up methods.. British and Irish Orthoptic Society Annual Conference. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Arblaster G & Hughes LA (2012) Retrospective Review of Occlusion Treatment for Intermittent Exotropia.. XIIth International Orthoptic Congress, Toronto, Canada.. RIS download Bibtex download

Other

  • Arblaster G, Bjerre A & Griffiths HJ (2017) Nystagmus Information Pack. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Arblaster G (2014) The Effect of Ageing on the Visual System. RIS download Bibtex download

Preprints

Research group

I have supervised undergraduate research project students and postgraduate research project students on the MMedSci (Vision & Strabismus) course.

MMedSci students supervised to completion:

  • Mahira Sheikh, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, UK.
    • Do the changes in visual acuity in children undergoing amblyopia therapy differ at near and distance?
  • Sarah Catherina Wittering, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
    • Reading at Distance: Does using an Interactive Whiteboard affect reading performance?
  • Mohammed Maqsud, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals Trust.
    • Study to investigate the incidence and final visual outcomes of children with bilateral refractive amblyopia referred from routine vision screening.
  • Deborah Steele, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
    • Amblyopia treatment and quality of life: The child's perspective on atropine versus patching.
Teaching interests

My teaching interests are orthoptics, clinical orthoptics, eye movements, strabismus and low vision. I have taught Orthoptics and Clinical Orthoptics to undergraduate students on the BMedSci (Orthoptics) course. I have also taught on the Low Vision module of the MMedSci (Vision & Strabismus) course. 

For clinical examinations we invite volunteer patients to take part. If you are interested in taking part in our clinical examinations in the future, please contact the Patients as Educators team to discuss your suitability for our examinations. 

Professional activities and memberships

I currently practice as an Orthoptist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

My previous clinical Orthoptic experience includes roles at:

  • Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust - lead clinical tutor and extended Orthoptic role assessing post operative strabismus patients
  • Manchester Royal Eye Hospital
  • Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge
  • Member of the British & Irish Orthoptic Society
  • Registered with the Health & Care Professions Council