Professor Barbara Ryan
Director Postgraduate Taught Programmes and WOPEC Co-Director
School of Optometry and Vision Sciences
- ryanb@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 29208 70233
- Fax:
- +44 (0)29 2087 4859
- Room 2.45, Optometry and Vision Sciences, Maindy Road
Professor Barbara Ryan joined the school in 2003. She is an optometrist and an academic and has a broad remit covering health services research, teaching and practice and has made significant contributions to the pedagogy / orthodoxy of optometric practice. She is currently Director of Postgraduate Taught Courses and Co- Director of Wales Optometry Postgraduate Education Centre (WOPEC).
Educational and Professional Qualifications
* Bsc Hons Optometry and Vision Science, City University 1991
* Membership College of Optometrists 1992
* PhD Cardiff University 2009
* Professional Certificate in Glaucoma 2017
Academic positions
* 2012 - present Director, Postgraduate Teaching
* 2009 - present Co-Director, Wales Optometry Postgraduate Optometry Centre
* 2003 - 2012 Training and Accreditation Manager, Welsh Eye Care Initiative Wales Government/ Cardiff University
* 2001 - 2003 Director of the Low Vision Clinic and Clinical Tutor, Bradford University
* 1994 - 1996 Clinical Tutor and Visiting Lecturer, Aston University
Welsh Government positions
* 2012 - 2016 Chief Optometric Advisor, Welsh Government (seconded from Cardiff University)
Previous teaching positions
Community practice
* 2003 - present Optometrist (0.2 FTE), Monnow Eye Care, Monmouth
* 2002 - 2003 Optometrist, Bradley and Smith Optometrists, Huddersfield
* 2001 - 2002 Optometrist, Specsavers, Halifax
Hospital practice
* 1995 - 2000 Senior Optometrist, Scleral Contact Lens Clinic, Birmingham Midland Eye Centre
* 1994 - 1996 Head of Optometry Department (Acting), Birmingham Heartlands Hospital
* 1993 - 1994 Maiduguri Eye Hospital, Nigeria
* 1992 - 1993 Optometrist, Oxford Eye Hospital
* 1991 - 1992 Pre- Registration Optometrist, Oxford Eye Hospital
Previous teaching positions
- 2001 - 2003 Director of the Low Vision Clinic and Clinical Tutor, Bradford University
- 1994 - 1996 Clinical Tutor and Visiting Lecturer, Aston University
Other positions
* 2003 - 2012 Clinical Lead, Welsh Low Vision Service Hywel Dda Health Board/ Cardiff University
* 1999 - 2001 Head of Low Vision and Eye Health,Royal National Institute for the Blind, London
* 1998 - 1999 Head of Low Vision,The Royal National Institute for the Blind, London
* 1996 - 1998 Low Vision Officer, The Royal National Institute for the Blind, London
* 1995 - 2000 Senior Optometrist, Multi-Disciplinary Low Vision Service, Birmingham Focus
Speaking engagements
Speaking engagements
* 2017Optrafair. ‘What more could you do with your career?’
* 2016 The Royal College of Ophthalmologists and College of Optometrists- Working Together, Working Differently Seminar; Integredig
* 2016 Annual Wales Eye Care Conference Wales, Closing address.
* 2016 Low Vision Care- what can every optometrist do? 7th Annual Scientific Sessions of Vision Care Academy, Sri Lanka
* 2016 Thea Eye Health Conference: Lessons learnt in Wales
* 2015 Postgraduate Teaching- what, who and how? 2015 OVN national conference, Holland.
* 2015 Kenynote Lecture. Low Vision in the 21st Century - Hospital Optometry Conference. Low Vision in the 21st Century.
* 2014 Low Vision in the 21st Century- 2014 National Conference Association of Irish optometrists.
* 2013 Invited Keynote Lecture, Wales and West Vision Conference June 2013. Remembering the small numbers in the big picture of Blindness.
* 2013 Invited Lecture, Optometry Tomorrow, College of Optometrists Annual Conference, February
* 2013. Low Vision in the 21st Century.2011 Invited Lecture, Annual Rural Doctors Conference,
* 2011 Invited Lecture, OVN National Optometric Conference, Holland Low Vision in the 21st Century.
* 2010 Invited Lecture and Chair, International Macular Disease Conference, Serbia. Low Vision Rehabilitation for people with Macular Disease.
* 2010 Invited Lecture, National Optometry Conference, London Nov 2010. Postgraduate Optometry Education: Why? What? Who? and How?
* 2010 Invited Keynote Lecture, Low Vision Symposium, Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast Oct 2010. Low Vision in the 21st Century.
* 2010 Chair, Wales Eye Care Conference 2010.
* 2010 Keynote address, European Optometry Conference, Copenhagen May 2010. Postgraduate Optometry Education: Why? What? Who? and How?
* 2009 Invited Keynote Lecture, Low Vision Symposium, Saudi Arabia. Low Vision Rehabilitation.
Committees and reviewing
University Committees
* Chair, Postgraduate Taught Board of Studies, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences
* WOPEC Board
* School Board, Optometry and Vision Sciences
External Committees
* 2017 Strategic Advisory Committee, Education Review, General Optical Council.
* 2017 Review Panel member, Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority, Northern Ireland: Review of the implementation of the Developing Eyecare Partnerships Strategy.
* 2017 Steering Group, Scottish Government: A review of low vision service provision in Scotland.
* 2014 to 2016 Quality and Safety Group, Department of Health and Social Services, Welsh Government.
* 2012 to 2016 Chair, Wales Eye Care Steering Board (Welsh Government).
* 2012 to 2016 National Joint Professionals Advisory Committee (Welsh Government).
* 2012 to 2016 Wales Optometric Committee (Welsh Government statutory advisory committee on Optometric Services in Wales)
* 2011 to 2012 Deputy Chair, Low Vision Service Development Committee (Statutory Committee Advising Welsh Assembly Government on Low Vision Services)
* 2009 to2011 Deputy Chair MEGAFOCUS (Statutory Committee Advising Welsh Assembly Government on Eyecare for BME groups)
* 2007 to 2012 Trustee, Sight Support (NGO).
* 2011 - 2012 Chair, Low Vision Higher Qualifications Committee, College of Optometrists
* 2011 - 2016 External Examiner, Aston University
* 2008 - 2015 College of Optometry, OSCE Writing Group
* 2008 - 2009 College of Optometry, Final Assessment Review Group
* 2006 - 2012 External Examiner, MSc Visual Impairment, City University
* 2004 - 2013 Wales Low Vision Advisory Group
* 1998 - 2000 Professional Secretary, Low Vision Consensus Committee
* 1996 - 2000 Optical Vouchers Consultative Committee (Statutory Committee Advising DOH)
* 1996 - 2013 Examiner, The College of Optometrists
2020
- Karas, M.et al. 2020. Continuing professional development requirements for UK health professionals: a scoping review. BMJ Open 10(3), article number: e032781. (10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032781)
2019
- Nollett, C.et al. 2019. How do community-based eye care practitioners approach depression in patients with low vision? A mixed methods study. BMC Psychiatry 19(1), article number: 426. (10.1186/s12888-019-2387-x)
- Nollett, C.et al. 2019. Depressive symptoms in people with a vision impairment: A cross-sectional study to identify who is most at risk. BMJ Open 9(1), article number: e026163. (10.1136/bmjopen-2018-026163)
2017
- Taylor, J.et al. 2017. Effectiveness of portable electronic and optical magnifiers for near vision activities in low vision: a randomised crossover trial. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics 37(4), pp. 370-384. (10.1111/opo.12379)
- John, R. and Ryan, B. 2017. A general practice model for low vision: lessons learned in Wales. Optometry in Practice 18(2), pp. 127-132.
2016
- Nollett, C. L.et al. 2016. Depression in visual impairment trial (DEPVIT): a randomised clinical trial of depression treatments in people with low vision. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 57(10), pp. 4247-4254. (10.1167/iovs.16-19345)
- Nollett, C.et al. 2016. High prevalence of untreated depression in patients accessing low-vision services. Ophthalmology 123(2), pp. 440-441. (10.1016/j.ophtha.2015.07.009)
2014
- Taylor, J.et al. 2014. The p-EVES study design and methodology: a randomised controlled trial to compare portable electronic vision enhancement systems (p-EVES) to optical magnifiers for near vision activities in visual impairment. Ophthalmic And Physiological Optics 34(5), pp. 558-572. (10.1111/opo.12149)
- Bullock, A. D.et al. 2014. Case-based discussion supporting learning and practice in optometry. Ophthalmic And Physiological Optics 34(5), pp. 614-621. (10.1111/opo.12151)
- Woodhouse, J. M.et al. 2014. Ocular and visual status among children in special schools in Wales: the burden of unrecognised visual impairment.. Archives of Disease in Childhood 99(6), pp. 500-504. (10.1136/archdischild-2013-304866)
- Ryan, B. 2014. Models of low vision care: past, present and future. Clinical and Experimental Optometry 97(3), pp. 209-213. (10.1111/cxo.12157)
2013
- Ryan, B.et al. 2013. Effectiveness of the community-based Low Vision Service Wales: A long-term outcome study. British Journal of Ophthalmology 97(4), pp. 487-491. (10.1136/bjophthalmol-2012-302416)
- Charlton, M. N.et al. 2013. The Welsh Low Vision Service - a summary. Optometry in Practice 12(1), pp. 29-38.
2012
- Stone, N., Ryan, B. and Sinclair, A. 2012. Diabetic eye disease and low vision. British Journal of Diabetes and Vascular Disease 11(6), pp. 282-287. (10.1177/1474651411428950)
- Khadka, J.et al. 2012. Listening to voices of children with a visual impairment: A focus group study. British Journal of Visual Impairment 30(3), pp. 182-196. (10.1177/0264619612453105)
- Margrain, T. H.et al. 2012. The depression in Visual Impairment Trial (DEPVIT): trial design and protocol. BMC Psychiatry 12(1), article number: 57. (10.1186/1471-244X-12-57)
2011
- Court, H. J.et al. 2011. How effective is the new community-based Welsh low vision service?. British Journal of Ophthalmology 95(2), pp. 178-184. (10.1136/bjo.2010.179606)
2010
- Khadka, J.et al. 2010. Development of the 25-item Cardiff Visual Ability Questionnaire for Children (CVAQC). British Journal of Ophthalmology 94(6), pp. 730-735. (10.1136/bjo.2009.171181)
- Ryan, B. and Margrain, T. H. 2010. Research findings no 28: All Wales visual impairment database. Project Report. London, UK: Thomas Pocklington Trust.
- Ryan, B.et al. 2010. Occasional paper no 24: All Wales visual impairment database. Project Report. London, UK: Thomas Pocklington Trust.
- Ryan, B.et al. 2010. The newly established primary care based Welsh Low Vision Service is effective and has improved access to low vision services in Wales. Ophthalmic And Physiological Optics 30(4), pp. 358-364. (10.1111/j.1475-1313.2010.00729.x)
- Ryan, B. and Margrain, T. H. 2010. Registration for people with sight impairment: Fit for purpose?. British Journal of Ophthalmology 94(12), pp. 1692-1693. (10.1136/bjo.2009.178558)
- Ryan, B. 2010. Evaluation of low vision services in the United Kingdom. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
2009
- Ryan, B., Sinclair, A. and Woodhouse, J. M. Robertson, H. ed. 2009. Low vision: The essential guide for optometrists. Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and The College of Optometrists.
2008
- Ryan, B., Court, H. J. and Margrain, T. H. 2008. Measuring low vision service outcomes: Rasch Analysis of the seven-item National Eye Institute visual function questionnaire. Optometry and Vision Science 85(2), pp. 112-121. (10.1097/OPX.0b013e31816225dc)
- Khadka, J.et al. 2008. Focusing children in focus groups [Abstract]. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics 28(1), pp. 99-99. (10.1111/j.1475-1313.2007.00530_11.x)
- Sinclair, A. and Ryan, B. Robertson, H. ed. 2008. Low vision: The essential guide for ophthalmologists. The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.
2005
- Margrain, T. H., Ryan, B. and Wild, J. M. 2005. A revolution in Welsh low vision service provision. British Journal of Ophthalmology 89(8), pp. 933-934. (10.1136/bjo.2005.066142)
2002
- Culham, L. E.et al. 2002. Low vision services for vision rehabilitation in the United Kingdom. British Journal of Ophthalmology 86(7), pp. 743-747. (10.1136/bjo.86.7.743)
1999
- Ryan, B. 1999. Commentary: The low vision challenge. British Journal of Visual Impairment 17(3), pp. 93-93. (10.1177/026461969901700302)
- Ryan, B.et al. 1999. Multi-disciplinary low vision services in the United Kingdom. Visual Impairment Research 1(3), pp. 181-186. (10.1076/vimr.1.3.181.4445)
- Ryan, B. and Culham, L. 1999. Fragmented vision: survey of low vision services in the UK. Royal National Institute for the Blind.
Research Topics
- Low Vision Rehabilitation
- The eye care requirements of children with special needs
Research Funding at Cardiff University
- 2012/ 2014 Collaborator NIHR PI Prof Christine Dickinson
- 2011/2014 Collaborator GDBA PI Margrain TH
- 2011/2013 Co-applicant RNIB PI JM Woodhouse
- 2007/2010 Co- Applicant Welsh Assembly Government PI JM Woodhouse
- 2007/2009 Co-applicant Welsh Office of Research and Development PI TH Margrain
- 2007/2008 PI Thomas Pocklington Trust
