Dr Irene Ctori

Overview

Overview
Irene is a qualified optometrist and an Associate Professor, Optometry and Visual Sciences, City, University of London.
Irene currently holds the role of Associate Dean, Education Quality and Student Experience, School of Health Sciences, City, University of London. In this role, Irene is accountable for the strategic responsibility for the delivery of education quality and student experience across the School of Health and Psychological Sciences. This includes programmes in Optometry, Nursing, Midwifery, Radiography, Language and Communication Sciences, Psychology and Health Services and Research Management and Food Policy.
Prior to her current role, Irene was the Head of Department of Optometry and Visual Science at City, University of London, during which she managed the Department through the first 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Research
Over the last few years, Irene has generated several high-quality publications in peer-reviewed journals with impact factors ranging from 2.35 to 6.12. She has a specialist interest in imaging the retina using Optical Coherence Tomography and in paediatric eye care and educational research.
Irene has supervised two PhD students to completion, and is currently supervising another two, due to complete in 2025.
Summary of current research
Co-I on EDI project on “Inclusivity in the School of Health Sciences” 2022: Access and Participation Funds of £8,1357 for a 3 phase study of student experiences of inclusivity (March 2022 – present)
Co-I Dr Alison Binns 2021 to present on exploratory (Phase IIb), two arm, double-masked, randomised placebo controlled clinical trial of ‘glycosides supplements for early and intermediate stage AMD (Collaboration with Cardiff University, grant value to City ~£450K) (July 2021-present)
Co-I and PhD supervisor of 2 PhD projects “Inter-subject variability in functional sensitivity and retinal ganglion cell parameters”, funded by Janet & Peter Wolf trust (£120,000) (Jan 2022 – present)
Co-I and PhD supervisor of a PhD project 'Paediatric Eye Care in the UK' (Jan 2019 -present)

Clinical Experience
Irene graduated from City University in 1994 with a First Class Honours degree in Optometry. Irene has over 25 year’s experience in a wide range of clinical optometric practice, including the private sector and in specialised Hospital Optometry Services. In 2008, Irene returned to City to do the MSc in Clinical Optometry. She completed this in 2012 (awarded Distinction). During this time, Irene worked as a specialist optometrist at Whipps Cross University Eye Hospital where she was the optometric lead for the Age Related Macular Degeneration service, and also a specialist paediatric optometrist working closely with the orthoptic team and the consultant ophthalmologists. Irene worked as a Visiting Clinical Tutor at City from 2007-2012 where she supervised UG students working in the paediatric and primary eye care clinics. In October 2012 Irene was awarded a City University PhD studentship and began her PhD which she did full-time and completed March 2016.

Programme Development
During her time as Head of Department of Optometry and Visual Science at City, University of London, Irene led the department on transition to online teaching, and delivery of remote eye care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to this, Irene was the Programme Director for the Foundation Degree in Ophthalmic Dispensing from 2016-2019. She then led on the development of a new ‘Introduction to Optometry’ programme and was Programme Director for this. She went on develop and lead a new cross-School ‘Introduction to Health Sciences’ programme, which began in 2019 and recruits over 100 students per year.
Irene continues to teach on the undergraduate and postgraduate Optometry programmes and is the Module Lead for the Year 2 Eye Disease module.

Qualifications

1. Senior Fellow Higher Education Academy, Higher Education Academy, United Kingdom, Oct 2019
2. PG Diploma Academic Practice (Distinction), City, University London, United Kingdom, Oct 2018
3. PhD Optometry and Visual Science, City, University of London, United Kingdom, Jan 2016
4. MSc Clinical Optometry (Distinction), City, University of London, United Kingdom, Jan 2012
5. BSc Optometry (1st class hons), City, university of London, United Kingdom, Jan 1994

Postgraduate training

1. PhD, City, University of London, London, United Kingdom, Sep 2012 – Mar 2016

Administrative roles

1. Programme Director Foundation Year in Health Sciences, City, University of London, Jan 2019 – present
2. Programme Director Introduction to Optometry, City, University of London, Sep 2018 – present
3. Programme Director Foundation Degree in Ophthalmic Dispensing, City, University of London, Sep 2016 – present

Employment

1. Associate Professor, City, University of London, Jan 2022 – present
2. Associate Dean, Education Quality and Student Experience, City, University of London, Jan 2021 – present
3. External Examiner, Cardiff University, Sep 2020 – present
4. Head of Department, City, University of London, Nov 2018 – Jan 2021
5. Expert Witness, General Optical Council, Sep 2017 – present

Memberships of committees

1. Trustee, College of Optometrists, Mar 2021 – present

Memberships of professional organisations

1. Member, College of Optometrists, Sep 1995 – present

Languages

Greek, Modern (1453-) (can read, write, speak and understand spoken).

Expertise

Geographic Areas

• Europe

Macular pigment

Irene's PhD research is based on investigating ethnic differences in the spatial distribution of macular pigment and its relation to foveal anatomy. The key findings are that the spatial distribution of macular pigment varies among individuals, with ethnicity playing a role. However, ethnic variations in foveal anatomy do not explain the differences observed.

Acute hyperglycaemia and the crystalline lens

Irene's MSc dissertation focused on the impact of changes taking place in the crystalline lens during acute hyperglycaemia, with particular attention on the consequent effects on refractive error. The main finding was that transient shifts in refractive error do occur in some diabetic subjects during episodes of acute hyperglycaemia, but there are conflicting reports as to the direction of change. While increased crystalline lens thickness during hyperglycaemia was an inconsistent finding, decreased refractive index was a more regular finding when refractive shifts did occur, especially as a feature of poorly controlled diabetes mellitus

Research students

Publications by category