Fully funded PhD studentship in Vision Sciences

Cardiff University School of Optometry and Vision Sciences has a fully funded PhD Studentship available suitable for healthcare, psychology, vision and related backgrounds. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone wishing to research anti-VEGF Injections.

Project title: Investigation of pain and discomfort associated with anti-VEGF injections

Injection of anti-VEGF drugs for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is today one of the most common medical interventions in secondary eye care, with repeated injections often required indefinitely.

Whilst treatment is widely considered successful in preventing vision loss, many patients report experiencing pain during or following an injection. This study will investigate the nature, associations and causes of this pain, and the role this plays in progression to disability.

The student will undertake a mixed methods investigation of pain associated with individual injections. Methods will include pain questionnaires, focus groups and structured interviews combined with anterior eye optical coherence tomography (OCT) and electrodermal activity (EDA) providing objective outcome measures.

He/she will be expected to analyse and interpret data, and write up findings for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals. He/she will also be expected to represent the research group, Schools, and University, and present findings at national and international research conferences.

The project will involve collaboration with clinicians at the University Hospital of Wales.

Find out more and apply

Supervisor(s) : Dr Ashley Wood (School of Optometry and Vision Sciences), Dr Jennifer Acton (School of Optometry and Vision Sciences), Prof. Heather Waterman (School of Healthcare)