Professor Rachel North
Professor of Optometry
- north@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 (0)29 2087 5114
- Fax:
- +44 (0)29 2087 4859
- Optometry and Vision Sciences, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ
Overview
My research interests include:
- Diabetes and its ocular complications
- Glaucoma
- Age related macular degeneration
My primary areas of research involve three of leading causes of blindness, diabetes mellitus, glaucoma and age related maculathy. The early detection of both conditions is important for their management and improved prognosis, and we have been investigating the structural and functional changes using digital imaging, electrophysiological and psychophysical techniques. More recently I have also been involved in the evaluation of eye care services provided for patients with wet age related maculopathy and glaucoma.
Biography
| 1983 | PhD Ophthalmic Optics, University of Wales, Cardiff |
| 1977 | Fellow of College of Optometrists |
| 1976 | MSc Occupational Safety & Hygiene, University of Aston in Birmingham |
| 1975 | BSc Hons Ophthalmic Optics, First Class, University of Aston in Birmingham |
Honours and awards
- Honorary Life Member of Vision Aid Overseas
- Life Fellow of College of Optometrists
Academic positions
| 2006 - 2012 | Deputy Head, School of Optometry & Vision Sciences, Cardiff University |
| 2005 - present | Professor, School of Optometry & Vision Sciences, Cardiff University |
| 2000 - 2005 | Senior Lecturer, Dept of Optometry & Vision Sciences, Cardiff University. |
| 1983 - 2000 | Lecturer, Dept of Optometry & Vision Sciences, Cardiff University. |
Speaking engagements
| 2012 | NISCHR/ WSPCR Annual Conference – Falls and Balance Conference, Role of vision impairment in falls, Cardiff |
| 2012 | City University, Monitoring and treatment of diabetes mellitus and its effect on retinopathy |
| 2012 | City University, Diabetes – Review of Ocular complications of diabetes mellitus |
| 2012 | CET/CPD Boots, Up to date with Diabetes, Bristol |
| 2011 | Austrian Optical Society, Diabetic Retinopathy, Vienna |
| 2011 | Role of Vision Aid Overseas in the correction of refractive error, World Congress of Refractive Errors, Durban |
| 2010 | South African Optometric Association. Diabetes and its ocular complications, Durban |
| 2010 | The Welsh Centre of Pharmacy Professional Education. Glaucoma – therapeutic update |
| 2010 | Cumbria Local Optical Committee – Diabetes – sweet n' sour , Cumbria |
| 2010 | College of Optometrists Annual meeting Research Key note. Diabetes Update - York April |
| 2009 | North Ireland Optometric Education, Diabetic eye disease. Belfast |
| 2009 | The Welsh Centre of Pharmacy Professional Education. Glaucoma – therapeutic update, Swansea |
| 2009 | The Welsh Centre of Pharmacy Professional Education. Age related maculopathy -update, Swansea |
| 2009 | Diabetes Update Conference, New developments in Diabetic Eye care, Cardiff |
Committees and reviewing
- School Board
- Board member of Wales Optometric Post Graduate
- Education Centre (WOPEC)
- Member of Research Committee
- Associate Director of Wales School of Primary Care Research.
External committees
| 2006 – 2013 | British Universities Colleges of Optometry Committee member |
| 2011- 2012 | College of Optometrists Trustee |
| 2009 – 2011 | College of Optometrist, Member of Research Committee |
| 2011 - 2012 | College of Optometrists, Chair of Education Committee |
| 2007 – present | Optometry Wales Council member |
| 2012- present | NISCHR Primary Care Research Incentive Scheme Advisory group member |
| 2011- present | Diabetes Research Network Wales (DRNW) Research Development Group – Diabetic Retinopathy |
| 2007- present | Wales Eye Health Week Strategy Committee member |
Other
| 2007-2012 | Trustee Vision Aid Overseas (VAO) |
Publications
We are currently unable to retrieve the list of publications. Visit our institutional repository.Teaching
Contributions to teaching include:
- BSc Yr 3 Research in Optometry & Vision Sciences
- WOPEC Postgraduate Course: Cataracts & Anterior eye complications in diabetes mellitus
- MSc in Clinical Optometry - research project supervision
My primary areas of research involve three major causes of blindness, diabetes mellitus, glaucoma and age related maculopathy. The early detection of both conditions is important for their management and improved prognosis, and we have been investigating the structural and functional changes using digital imaging, electrophysiological and psychophysical techniques.
The diabetes studies have been investigating the risk factors for the development of diabetic retinopathy in children and adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus. We have found that patients with diabetes have functional changes prior to visible diabetic retinopathy and have investigated whether this functional loss detected in the early stages of eye disease is reversible. We found that oxygen inhalation has partially reversed functional loss in patients without diabetic retinopathy.
The ability to detect structural changes to the retina have been evaluated using digital imaging techniques including scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, retinal thickness analyser, and stereoscopic fundus photography. We have also examined the choroidal structure using the 1050nm optical coherence tomography and found that the choroidal thickness is increased in diabetic patients. We found that the central choroid is thinner in all type 2 diabetic eyes regardless of disease stage, ie with or without clinically significant diabetic macular oedema.
The early detection of glaucoma has been studied by electrophysiological assessment of ganglion cell function, ocular blood flow and digital imaging of the optic nerve head. We have shown that electrophysiological measures are not only depressed prior to visual field loss in patients with glaucoma, but also in patients with ocular hypertension. This indicates that there may be dysfunction despite a normal structural appearance to the optic nerve head.
In addition, we are using 1050nm optical coherence tomography (OCT) to create 3D volumetric datasets of the normal and glaucomatous optic nerve head in vivo in order to characterise optic nerve head parameters that have the potential to stage and/or predict glaucomatous optic neuropathy. In particular we are investigating the lamina cribrosa, in optic nerve heads at risk. We are also examining the relationship between the changes that take place in the optic nerve head comparison to those in the retina and choroid.
Funding
Funding has been awarded from: British Council for Prevention of Blindness, College of Optometrists, Diabetes UK, Welsh office for Research & Development, NERC, The Wellcome Trust, Raynauds & Scleroderma Association and The BUPA Foundation, Pfizer, Welsh Energy Research, Action Medical Research, Fight For Sight, UK & Eire Glaucoma Society & American Health Assistance Foundation.
- Ryan B, Anderson P, North RV, Wallace C, Reynolds R, Davies S, Molik B. Hospital to Community: identifying the value of community optometrists monitoring and managing chronic eye disease in community practices. Health Care Research Wales,Research for Patient Benefit 2020-2022. £226,422
- Albon J, Bartlett R, North RV, Morgan JE, Marshall D. A multidisciplinary approach to early detection and staging disease in glaucoma, 2020-2022, Wellcome Trust ISSF3 Award.
- Albon J, White N, North RV, Morgan JE. Optic nerve microstructure: a significant indicator of disease severity,Health Studentship Award, Health and Care Research Wales/ Welsh Government, 2017- 2020. £65408,
- Albon J, North RV, White N, Morgan JE. Focal lamina cribrosa micro-regions: biomarkers for glaucomatous optic neuropathy? Fight For Sight, Jan-Dec 2015, £15,000.
- North RV, Kenkre J, Cooper A, Van Deursen R, Survey of vision screening services provided for stroke patients in Wales, NISCHR/Wales School of Primary Care Research 2012, £8,375
- Albon J, North RV, Morgan JE. The use of 1050nm OCT to identify changes of optic nerve head pathophysiology in glaucoma, College of Optometrists, 2011-2014. £52,688,
- Albon J, North RV, Morgan JE, Disks at Risk. American Health Assistance Foundation, 2011-13. $100,000
- Albon J, North RV, Drexler W, Morgan JE. Optic nerve head changes in the progression of glaucomatous optic neuropathy using 1050nm OCT, Hirsch and Fight for Sight Award, 2010-11. £15,000
- North RV, Albon J, Drexler W, Three dimensional imaging of the ageing and glaucomatous optic nerve head: risk factors for the development of open-angle glaucoma. UK & Eire Glaucoma Society and International Glaucoma Association, 2008-09. £20,000.
Research collaborators
- Dr Julie Albon, Cardiff University
- Professor James Morgan, Cardiff University
- Prof Barbara Ryan, Cardiff University
- Dr Andrew Carson-Stevens, Cardiff University
- Prof Carolyn Wallace University of South Wales
- Dr Mark Davies, University of South Wales
- Dr Pippa Anderson, Swansea Unversity
- Professor David Owens, Swansea University
- Dr Rebecca Thomas, Swansea University
Currently have collaborations with School of Computer Science, School of Medicine, Dept of Primary Care and Public Health, , School of Healthcare Studies.
Current Postgraduate Students
| 2020- PhD |
Elinor McFarlane, "Evaluation of errors in the delivery of care to patients with eye-related problems" |
Previous Postgraduate Students
Supervision
Past projects
Current Postgraduate Students
| 2020- PhD |
Elinor McFarlane, "Evaluation of errors in the delivery of care to patients with eye-related problems" |
Previous Postgraduate Students
| 2021 PhD | Ryan Bartlett, "An in vivo investigation of optic nerve head microstructure in primary open angle glaucoma" |
| 2017 PhD | Louise Terry "An in vivo investigation of choroidal vasculature in age-related macular degeneration" |
| 2016 PhD | Beth Flynn, "The use of 1050nm OCT to identify changes of optic nerve head pathophysiology in glaucoma" |
| 2015 PhD | Areej Okashah, "Portable Electronic Low Vision Aids for people with visual impairment." |
| 2014 PhD | Rachel Hiscox, "The retina in Cystic Fibrosis". |
| 2014 PhD | Alison Ng, "The effects of cosmetics on the ocular surface and tear film". |
| 2014 PhD | Rebecca Thomas, "Optimal time to next screen for diabetic retinopathy in screen negative persons with diabetes." |
| 2013 MPhil | Stephen John, "Comparison of two different methods of stereoscopic viewing and the effect of teaching on the assessment of the cup to disc ratio for glaucoma detection" |
| 2012 PhD | Walter Gutstein, "Measurement of Vision under conditions of contrast and luminance simulating those of real environments" |
| 2012 PhD | Samuel Heinz Dremmel, "Diagnostic aspects of structure and function in primary open angle glaucoma" |
| 2012 PhD | Mizhanim Mohamad Shahimin, "Development and validation of a digital quantitative orthoptics workstation". |
| 2010 PhD | Saud Alanazi, "Investigation of the clinical factors affecting heterophoria & fixation disparity measurements". |
| 2010 PhD | Mana Alanazi, "Studies of visual function and the effect of visual fatigue in adults with dyslexia" |
| 2009 PhD | Katharine Evans, "Cystic Fibrosis and the eye". |
| 2007 PhD | Jennifer Cumiskey, "Electrophysiological studies of retinal function at low light levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus |
| 2004 MPhil | Sarvenaz Malihi , "Investigation of retinal function in diabetes mellitus" |
| 2004 PhD | Dominique Arlotte, "Investigation of Oscillatory Potentials in patients with diabetes mellitus". |
| 2004 PhD | Adrian Jones, "Investigation of primary open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension by electrophysiological and digital imaging techniques". |
| 2003 PhD | Nik Sheen, " Evaluation of digital retinal imaging in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma". |
| 2002 PhD | Rhianon Perrott , "The significance of pulsatile ocular blood flow in the management of diabetic retinopathy". |
| 2001 PhD | Zohreh Chiti, "Electrophysiological investigation into the effect of oxygen inhalation on retinal function in Type II Diabetes Mellitus". |
| 2001 PhD | Katie Mortlock (Jenkins), "Neurophysiological examination of retinal function in patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus". |
| 1999 PhD | Zeki Ali, "The influence of the management of diabetes mellitus and its management upon visual functions" |
| 1997 MPhil | Una Whitcombe, "Clinical evaluation of ocular and visual functions of young patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus" |
| 1995 MPhil | Denise Banford, "Longitudinal study of visual functions in children with Type 1 diabetes mellitus. |
| 1988 MPhil | Beth Kelly "Atropine occlusion in the treatment of strabismic amblyopia" |
