Dr Catherine Suttle

Overview

Catherine is an optometrist who joined City University London in 2013, having previously worked at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

Catherine studied dispensing optics by correspondence at City College, graduating in 1980. She then enrolled at City University London as an Optometry student, and graduated in 1992. Her PhD research was conducted from 1994 to 1997, on the development of colour vision, at Aston University in Birmingham. She took a post-doc position at the School of Optometry, University of California, Berkeley, from 1997 to 2000, then moved to Sydney, Australia to take a lectureship in optometry at the University of New South Wales. In 2013 she returned to City University London as a Senior Lecturer in Optometry and Visual Science.

Qualifications

PhD (Vision Science), BSc (Optometry) and GradCert (University Learning and Teaching).

Employment

• Senior Lecturer, City, University London, 2013 – present

Memberships of professional organisations

• College of Optometrists

Teaching

Modules taught on

- OV1012/OV2207 Clinical Skills 1 (leader and teacher)
- OV2018 Binocular Vision (teacher)

Research overview

Catherine's research focuses on aspects of paediatric eye care, and on evidence-based practice in optometry.

Paediatric eye care is an important aspect of optometry, since during childhood the visual system undergoes development which may be impeded by abnormality of the eye or vision. For example, the detection and correction of significant refractive error (a need for glasses) in children is vital. In recent years Catherine's research in this area has included treatment methods for amblyopia (lazy eye), spectacle prescribing for children, and the use of coloured filters for children and adults with reading difficulties.

Evidence-based practice (EBP) involves clinical decision-making on the basis of the best available evidence. Research Catherine conducted with colleagues at the University of New South Wales in Australia suggested that optometrists' clinical decisions are made largely on the basis of undergraduate and postgraduate education. This does not necessarily include the best evidence, which would require search and appraisal of relevant research. Currently, Catherine is researching th extent to which EBP skills and knowledge are developed in undergraduate optometry students at City, with the ultimate aim of ensuring that they are equipped to be evidence-based practitioners.

Grants

- Curriculum Review for Evidence-based Practice in Australasian Optometry (AUD217,000) Australian Learning and Teaching Council 2011-2013

Research centres

- Visual Development and Plasticity
- Centre for Public Health Research

Principal collaborators

- Professor John Lawrenson
- Dr Simon Grant
- Dr Catherine Stewart
- Dr Isabelle Jalbert (UNSW Australia)
- Dr Mei Boon (UNSW Australia)
- Ms Sheela Devi (LV Prasad Eye Institute)

Publications by category