What has your involvement in research projects brought to your career?
Dr Hannah Bartlett: Research has played an important role in my career progression. Completing my PhD in ocular nutrition was the first step towards a career in research. It was then important for me to demonstrate that I was able to publish research papers and secure research funding in order to obtain an academic position.
How could practitioners benefit from marrying a role in practice with research?
Dr Bartlett: Clinicians always benefit from an evidence base, so optometrists may find it interesting to set up a study to investigate a particular issue or trend they have experienced among their patients. The College of Optometrists offers the iPRO scheme, which is designed to help members to carry out small practice-based research studies. Optometrists who have a significant interest in research may also want to consider studying for a professional doctorate.
What does an optometry researcher do and who do you work with?
Dr Bartlett: The research part of my role involves writing research papers, professional articles, research grants, supervising PhD and Master’s students, and liaising with partner companies and charities. Successful research projects often involve collaboration, and I have been fortunate to work with computer scientists, nutritional scientists, health psychologists, electrophysiologists, biochemists and medical physicists – all of whom have added breadth to my research portfolio.
What are your research interests?
Dr Bartlett: My research is based around the role of nutrition in ocular disease.
Why nutrition?
Dr Bartlett: I saw an opportunity to apply for a PhD project on nutrition for age-related macular disease (AMD), and that formed my grounding in research. I was lucky enough to be able to continue researching in the same general area following completion of my studies.
Which research projects and discoveries in this field are most exciting to you?
Dr Bartlett: The Age-Relate Eye Disease studies are the largest clinical trials that have investigated the role of nutrition in ocular disease. The results of these trials form the most reliable evidence base for nutrition in AMD. At Aston we have completed some interesting work on the nutritional behaviour of people with AMD, and this is helping us to develop interventions that might help patients to obtain accurate and accessible advice about diet and supplements.
What areas of your research do you share with your students at Aston and what interests them?
Dr Bartlett: In the past I have done a lot of work on the measurement of macular pigment. The pros and cons of measuring macular pigment in practice is a discussion students find interesting. Our undergraduates and post-graduates are also keen to learn about which types of supplement can be recommended to patients.
What role would you like see nutritional optometry playing in eye care practices?
Dr Bartlett: It is important to try to ensure the right supplements are recommended to the patients who are likely to benefit. Because nutritional supplements are not regulated in the same way as medicines, it is very difficult for patients and practitioners to know which supplements are likely to be helpful.
How open have practice owners been to nutritional supplements?
Dr Bartlett: My experience is that optometrists are keen to learn about the appropriate recommendations regarding nutritional supplementation for ocular diseases.
Are the optometry course syllabuses in UK BSc programmes making alternative career paths within the profession accessible to trainees? Should they do more?
Dr Bartlett: At Aston we ensure our students think about their career path and employability from the beginning of the first year. We have a very active Optics Society which organises regular talks and seminars from a wide range of optometric companies and professionals.
Undergraduates are encouraged to take part in research projects that are being managed by the postgraduate students, and the majority of our undergraduates are involved in our mentoring scheme, both as mentors and mentees. We have a dedicated optometry careers tutor, and students are encouraged to input on the management and direction of the programme through our student staff panel. Students also often have the opportunity to apply for short research positions during the summer breaks. This year we were the first optometry department to work with Carl Zeiss Vision UK on their summer internship programme for first and second year students.