Dr Angharad Hobby

(she/her)

Publication

• Date
• Type

Research

I currently hold a role as a Senior Research Associate at the University of Bristol where I am part of a multidisciplinary team working on the DIPP study - an NIHR funded project working on improving the Diagnostic accuracy of referrals for Papilloedema. My research interests are in the areas of clinical optometry, public health, and medical pedagogy (teaching). Please feel free to get in touch if you are interested in collaborating on delivery of research or teaching outcomes within the field of optometry.

Previous research work:

I was awarded my PhD for my thesis titled "An investigation of the effect of long-term anti-VEGF therapy on retinal function and structure in people with neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration" which I completed as part of the David Crabb Lab at City, University of London. This research was funded by the College of Optometrists. I also have experience in medical education and assessment at undergraduate and postgraduate level through various industry and academic positions.

Following this I held a position as a Postdoctoral Researcher at Cardiff University where I worked on two projects related to public and population health. The first project, examined assessment and management of acute eye conditions in primary and secondary care though different providers of urgent eye care. The second was an evaluation of pilot schemes for new community-based eye care services designed to alleviate progressively unsustainable pressures on hospital ophthalmology outpatient services. Mixed methods approaches were used for evaluation in these projects including Patient Reported Outcome Measures, Patient Reported Experience Measures, and participant interviews with thematic analysis.

My research interests are in the areas of clinical optometry, public health, and medical pedagogy (teaching). Please feel free to get in touch if you are interested in collaborating on delivery of research or teaching outcomes within the field of optometry.

Biography

I have recently joined the School of Optometry and Vision Sciences as a Lecturer. As part of this role I teach across all undergraduate optometry years and on postgraduate courses. In addition I am involved in the development of new teaching content for the optometry programme and I am also involved in pastoral care of students as a personal tutor. In addition to this I currently hold a role as a Senior Research Associate at the University of Bristol where I am part of a multidisciplinary team working on the DIPP study - an NIHR funded project working on improving the Diagnostic accuracy of referrals for Papilloedema.

I have a wealth of experience in optometric education, having previously lectured at the University of the West of England and held the position of Optometry Programme Lead for 2.5 years there. Prior to this I have also taught at undergraduate and postgraduate level at a number of institutions including Cardiff University (UG & PG Optometry, and UG Medicine), City St George University of London, and the Johnson and Johnson Vision Institute (UG and PG courses). I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education.

I practice in both primary and secondary care (i.e. high street and hospital based optometry) and have particular clinical interests in paediatric optometry, chronic eye disease, and low vision. I have obtained my Professional Certificate in Glaucoma and am working towards completing my Higher Certificate in Glaucoma.

I was awarded my PhD for my thesis titled "An investigation of the effect of long-term anti-VEGF therapy on retinal function and structure in people with neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration" which I completed as part of the David Crabb Lab at City, University of London. This research was funded by the College of Optometrists. I also have experience in medical education and assessment at undergraduate and postgraduate level through various industry and academic positions.

Following this I held a position as a Postdoctoral Researcher at Cardiff University where I worked on two projects related to public and population health. The first project, examined assessment and management of acute eye conditions in primary and secondary care though different providers of urgent eye care. The second was an evaluation of pilot schemes for new community-based eye care services designed to alleviate progressively unsustainable pressures on hospital ophthalmology outpatient services. Mixed methods approaches were used for evaluation in these projects including Patient Reported Outcome Measures, Patient Reported Experience Measures, and participant interviews with thematic analysis.

My research interests are in the areas of clinical optometry, public health, and medical pedagogy (teaching). Please feel free to get in touch if you are interested in collaborating on delivery of research or teaching outcomes within the field of optometry.

Honours and awards

• 'Highest Scoring Poster' (featured at 'Speakers Corner') - EURetina, Vienna (Austria), 2018
• 'Hot Topic' Research - ARVO Conference, Seattle (USA), 2016
• 'Leader of the Future' - Optician Awards, 2014
• 'Student of the Year' - AOP Awards, 2014
• 'Young Business Woman of the Year', Wales Online Awards, 2008

Professional memberships

• The College of Optometrists - Member (MOptom), (2014 - present)
• GOC Registration as Qualified Optometrist (2014 - present)
• Association of Optometrists - Member (2010 - present)

Academic positions

• Lecturer, Cardiff University - present
• Optometry Programme Lead & Senior Lecturer, The University of the West of England, 2022 - 2025
• Post-Doctoral Researcher, Cardiff University, 2018 - 2021
• PhD Researcher, City University of London, 2014 - 2019
• Researcher, The Insitiute of Opthalmology & Moorfields Eye Hospital (UCL), 2017-2018

Committees and reviewing

• Optometry Wales - Board/Council Member and Chair of Research Sub-Committee (2019 - present)
• Clinical and Experimental Optometry, Journal Reviewer (2024 - present)