Salma Ahmad

Overview

Salma was awarded a BSc (Hons) in Optometry from City, University of London in 2013 and became a qualified professional in 2014. She later embarked on further studies and was awarded an MSc in Clinical Optometry in 2018.

Salma joined City, University of London as a Visiting Clinical Tutor for first- and second-year optometry students in the academic year commencing 2017. At the beginning of 2019, Salma joined as a PhD student working towards her PhD. Her research looks at the role of optometrists in paediatric eyecare in England.

Salma is still practising and predominantly locums in Essex. In 2019 Salma became a PhD representative for the department of Optometry.



Research

Salma’s PhD is titled “ The role of optometrists in paediatric eyecare in England.”

Given the well-established need for normal visual stimulation during periods of visual development and optometrists being the leading providers of primary eye care in England, this makes it an essential issue for the profession and public health. As part of this PhD research, one of the aims is to determine the current accessibility of state-funded primary eyecare for young children. As part of the proposed research, the barriers preventing UK optometrists from carrying out sight tests on young children will determine the corresponding enablers. The aim will be to find the means to bring about behaviour change in the form of increased optometric eye care for young children.

Following on from this, anecdotally, the policy regarding the use of cycloplegic refraction differs between paediatric clinics across the UK; some practices only recommend a full cycloplegic refraction in cases where there is a higher risk to certain ocular anomalies. In other clinics, children under 13 years old automatically undergo a full cycloplegic refraction. This is an invasive procedure involving the use of eye drops that many patients find uncomfortable and often cause distress to young children. The proposed research aims to achieve important clinical objectives and decide if there are useful noncycloplegic auto-refraction levels to identify children who require further examination under cycloplegia. In the final part of this study, the age and levels of refractive error requiring spectacle prescribing in infants and children will be critically appraised and discussed amongst experts. This will help provide some guidance for the management of refractive error in paediatrics.

Supervisors:
Dr Irene Ctori
Dr Catherine Suttle
Dr Rakhee Shah
Dr Miriam Conway

Qualifications

1. Achieved Associate Fellow status for teaching and learning support in higher education-, City, University of London, United Kingdom, May 2020
2. MSc Clinical Optometry, City, University of London, United Kingdom, Jun 2018
3. Institute of Leadership and Management Level 2, ILM, Apr 2017
4. WOPEC-Glaucoma Level 1 and 2 accredited, Cardiff University, United Kingdom, Apr 2016
5. WOPEC- MECS/PEARS (Minor Eye Conditions Services/ Primary Eyecare Acute referral Scheme), Cardiff University, United Kingdom, Apr 2016
6. WOPEC- Cataracts accredited, Cardiff University, United Kingdom, Mar 2016
7. BSc (Hons) Optometry, City, University London, United Kingdom, Jun 2013

Postgraduate training

1. Independent Prescribing, City, University of London, London, United Kingdom, Nov 2018
2. Professional Certificate in Paediatric Eye Care accredited, City, University of London, London, United Kingdom, Jun 2017
3. Professional Certificate in Low Vision accredited, City University of London, United Kingdom, Dec 2016
4. Professional Certificate in Medical Retina accredited, City University of London, United Kingdom, Sep 2016
5. Professional Certificate in Glaucoma accredited, City University of London, United Kingdom, Jul 2016

Languages

English (can read, write and speak), Panjabi; Punjabi (can speak and understand spoken) and Urdu (can speak and understand spoken).

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