Ophthalmologists awarded their masters
Two ophthalmologists, Drs Simon Dean and Graham Wilson, have recently been awarded masters degrees.
Dr Simon Dean has been awarded a masters degree in cataract and refractive surgery from the University of Ulster, Belfast, for his work into the application of ultraviolet-C (UVC) as a potential treatment for corneal infections.
Dr Dean enrolled in the course during his fellowship in the UK in 2008, while training in both oculoplastics and anterior segment/cataract surgery. The MSc in cataract and refractive surgery is an online course covering the in-depth theory of modern surgical techniques, with a view to providing optimal refractive outcomes for patients. As the course title suggests, the topics covered include excimer laser surgery and cataract surgery, and everything in between (collagen crosslinking, arcuate keratotomy, corneal ring segments, phakic IOLs etc). Following successful completion of the theory component, the final year of the course required Dr Dean to conduct an original research project.
“I led a research team, assessing the efficacy and safety of UVC in an in-vitro model, and this work was recently presented at the RANZCO conference in Adelaide, and at the Tear Film and Ocular Surface conference in Italy, and published in Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology (epub ahead of print),” he said.
Dr Dean’s in-depth knowledge and experience of the use of UVA in corneal collagen crosslinking, having designed and built a crosslinking device which has been donated to the University of Auckland for their research study, initially sparked his interest in the potential sterilising qualities of UVC on the human cornea. Dr Dean’s paper suggests that, at the doses used to eradicate microbes, the corneal epithelium is not adversely affected. Animal and human studies are now being conducted, based in the UK.
In combination with his clinical commitments, Dr Dean continues to pursue his research interests in imaging and ophthalmic applications of non-visible wavelengths. He is a consultant ophthalmologist at Counties Manukau DHB, providing expertise in oculoplastics as well as general ophthalmology, and also works with the Eye Institute as an associate member of the team, based mainly at their new South Auckland facility. There, he offers general ophthalmology expertise, as well as functional and cosmetic oculoplastics, and a collagen crosslinking service.
Dr Wilson has been awarded the Master of Ophthalmology (MOphth) with distinction, Grade A+ (90%). Dr Wilson is the third such graduate to have completed their masters through the University of Otago.
Last year Dr Wilson was awarded the inaugural VISION2020 study grant of $5,000 for his research Does amblyopia have a functional impact: Findings from the Dunedin Study.
In this study, Dr Wilson and co-researcher David Welch examined data from the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Study, a longitudinal population birth cohort (born 1972-3, n=1037, retention rate age 32 years is 96%). Study members with amblyopia were compared with those without, for the following outcome domains; childhood motor development, adolescent self-esteem, and adult socio-economic outcomes. It was concluded that amblyopia within the cohort had no effect on the broad domains of everyday life. These findings have public health significance with respect to the cost-effectiveness of amblyopia screening programmes and the utility of amblyopia. The incidence of bilateral visual impairment, surely the most important potential sequelae of amblyopia, will be examined in future phases of this study.
Dr Wilson has been a consultant ophthalmologist at Gisborne Hospital since 2007 as well as working in private practice in Gisborne. He is an honorary clinical senior lecturer at the University of Otago. He is also involved in a national study of blind and vision impaired Ma-ori children and young adults, a project funded by the Health Research Council. He is also part of a research team examining the association between retinal blood vessel changes and other health parameters within the longitudinal cohort of the Dunedin Study, also partly funded by the HRC.
Associate professor Gordon Sanderson of the University of Otago said the degree is growing in popularity. The three ophthalmologists who have been awarded the MOphth are Drs Anmar Abdul-Rahman, Gus Clarke and Graham Wilson. One more has just submitted their thesis for marking, three ophthalmology registrars are currently working towards this highly sought after degree and another has just enrolled in it. Otago University was the first University in the world to offer this degree, but it is now being offered in Adelaide as well.
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