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portrait of Dr Byki Huntjens

Dr Byki Huntjens

Senior Lecturer

School of Health Sciences, Division of Optometry and Visual Sciences

Contact Information

Contact

Visit Byki Huntjens

M107, Myddelton Street Building

Postal Address

City, University of London
Northampton Square
London
EC1V 0HB
United Kingdom

About

Overview

Following her Bachelor in Optometry from the Hogeschool Utrecht (the Netherlands), Byki moved to the UK in 2002 to start her MSc in Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science at the University of Manchester. After completion, she worked as a research assistant at the same institution, and was granted a PhD sponsorship from Lein Applied Diagnostics to investigate a non-invasive method for glucose measurements in the aqueous humour. She completed her doctorate in 2008 and joined City, University of London in 2009 as a lecturer. Currently she is module lead for Contact Lenses (UG), and Professional Higher Certificate in Contact Lenses as well as Medical Retina (PG), and Lead for Teaching Excellence in the School of Health representing optometry. She supervises several MSc and PhD students in the field of contact lenses, myopia, and dry eye. She launched the dry eye clinic at City. Byki was elected to Council of the British Contact Lens Association (BCLA), and is vice-Chair of the British University and College Contact Lens Educators (BUCCLE).

Qualifications

  1. Dry eye management and contact lens retention - certificate, British Contact Lens Association, United Kingdom, Jul 2019
  2. PGDipAP, City University London, United Kingdom, Jan 2009 – Jan 2012
  3. PhD, University of Manchester, United Kingdom, Jan 2004 – Jan 2008
  4. MSc, University of Manchester, United Kingdom, Jan 2002 – Jan 2003
  5. BOptom, Hogeschool van Utrecht (HvU), Netherlands, 1996 – 2001

Administrative roles

  1. Programme Director UG Optometry, Division of Optometry, City, University of London
  2. Member of the Ethics Advisory Team (Division of Optometry)
  3. Member of the Research Ethics Committee and of the Moodle Support Group (School of Health Sciences)
  4. Member of the Learning Spaces Group (University)

Employment

  1. Visiting Scholar, UC Berkeley, Jan – Apr 2019
  2. Lead for Teaching Excellence, City, University of London, Sep 2016 – present
  3. Senior Lecturer, Optometry and Visual Sciences, City, University London, Aug 2016 – present
  4. Programme Director BSc (Hons) Optometry, City, University of London, Aug 2015 – Aug 2018
  5. Lecturer, Optometry and Visual Sciences, City, University London, Jan 2009 – Aug 2016
  6. Clinical supervisor Primary Care and Contact Lens clinics, City, University London, 2007 – 2009
  7. Resident Optometrist, Michel Guillon optician, Jan 2007 – Jan 2009
  8. Locum Optometrist, Greater Manchester, Jan 2004 – Jan 2007
  9. Research Assistant, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, Jan 2003 – Jan 2004

Fellowships

  1. Senior Fellow (SFHEA), Higher Education Academy, May 2019 – present
  2. Fellow of the BCLA (FBCLA), British Contact lens Association, Jun 2018 – present
  3. Fellow of IACLE (FIACLE), International Association of Contact Lens Educators, Jan 2016 – present
  4. Fellow (FHEA), Higher Education Academy, Jan 2011 – May 2019

Memberships of committees

  1. Vice-Chair, British & Irish University & College Contact Lens Educators, Feb 2019 – present
  2. Elected Council Member, British Contact Lens Association, Jun 2018 – present

Memberships of professional organisations

  1. International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE), Jan 2015 – present
  2. British Contact Lens Association (BCLA), Jan 2015 – present
  3. General Optical Council, 2003 – present
  4. College of Optometrists, 2003 – present

Languages

Dutch; Flemish.

Research

Research Overview

Byki completed her doctorate called 'Acute anterior ocular changes in Diabetes Mellitus' in 2008. Currently, her main area of research includes dry eye, contact lenses and macular pigment optical density in relation to foveal anatomy using optical coherence tomography. Particular interests are 1) air pollution and dry eye, 2) ortho keratology contact lenses and myopia control, and 3) ethnic variations in spatial profiling of macular pigment.

Grants

Together with Dr Manbir Nagra and Professor Chris Hull, an industry grant was obtained to design and manufacturer an optimal orthokeratology lens for myopia control (2016).
Byki was given the opportunity to be PI of a City University Doctoral Studentship (2012- 2015) to investigate the relationship between macular pigment optical density and foveal anatomic architecture in different ethnic populations.

Research Students

Miss Kristina Mihić

Attendance: Oct 2017 – present, full-time

Thesis title: Myopia control using orthokeratology

Role: 2nd Supervisor

Mrs Irene Ctori

Thesis title: The relationship between macular pigment optical density and foveal anatomic architecture in different ethnic populations

Further information: PhD start date Oct 2012; First supervisor

Miss Angharad Hobby

Thesis title: Measuring Effects of long term anti-VEGF therapy on peripheral retinal function and structure

Further information: PhD start date Oct 2014; Second supervisor

Publications

  1. Wolffsohn, J.S., Dhirajlal, H., Vianya-Estopa, M., Nagra, M., Madden, L., Sweeney, L.E. … Maldonado-Codina, C. (2020). Fast versus gradual adaptation of soft daily disposable contact lenses in neophyte wearers. Contact Lens and Anterior Eye, 43(3), pp. 268–273. doi:10.1016/j.clae.2019.08.011.
  2. Vianya-Estopa, M., Nagra, M., Cochrane, A., Retallic, N., Dunning, D., Terry, L. … Joshi, M. (2020). Optimising subjective anterior eye grading precision. Contact Lens and Anterior Eye. doi:10.1016/j.clae.2020.03.006.
  3. Nagra, M. and Huntjens, B. (2020). Smartphone ophthalmoscopy: patient and student practitioner perceptions. Journal of Medical Systems, 44(1). doi:10.1007/s10916-019-1477-0.
  4. Hutchins, B. and Huntjens, B. (2020). Patients’ attitudes and beliefs to presbyopia and its correction. Journal of Optometry. doi:10.1016/j.optom.2020.02.001.
  5. Nagra, M., Akhtar, A., Huntjens, B. and Campbell, P. (2020). Open versus closed view autorefraction in young adults. Journal of Optometry. doi:10.1016/j.optom.2020.06.007.
  6. Huntjens, B., Basi, M. and Nagra, M. (2019). Evaluating a new objective grading software for conjunctival hyperaemia. Contact Lens and Anterior Eye. doi:10.1016/j.clae.2019.07.003.
  7. Ctori, I., Mahroo, O.A., Williams, K.M., Hammond, C.J. and Huntjens, B. (2018). Repeatability of the macular pigment spatial profile: A comparison of objective versus subjective classification. Acta Ophthalmologica, 96(7). doi:10.1111/aos.13725.
  8. Hobby, A.E., Kozareva, D., Yonova-Doing, E., Hossain, I.T., Katta, M., Huntjens, B. … Mahroo, O.A. (2018). Effect of varying skin surface electrode position on electroretinogram responses recorded using a handheld stimulating and recording system. Documenta Ophthalmologica, 137(2), pp. 79–86. doi:10.1007/s10633-018-9652-z.
  9. Bott, D., Huntjens, B. and Binns, A. (2018). Nutritional and smoking advice recalled by patients attending a UK age-related macular degeneration clinic. Journal of Public Health (United Kingdom), 40(3), pp. 614–622. doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdx115.
  10. Ctori, I. and Huntjens, B. (2017). The association between foveal morphology and macular pigment spatial distribution: An ethnicity study. PLoS ONE, 12(1). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0169520.
  11. Wolffsohn, J.S., Naroo, S.A., Christie, C., Morris, J., Conway, R., Maldonado-Codina, C. … Harknett, T. (2015). Anterior eye health recording. Contact Lens and Anterior Eye, 38(4), pp. 266–271. doi:10.1016/j.clae.2015.03.001.
  12. Wolffsohn, J.S., Naroo, S.A., Christie, C., Morris, J., Conway, R., Maldonado-Codina, C. … Harknett, T. (2015). History and symptom taking in contact lens fitting and aftercare. Contact Lens and Anterior Eye, 38(4), pp. 258–265. doi:10.1016/j.clae.2015.03.002.
  13. Ctori, I. and Huntjens, B. (2015). Repeatability of foveal measurements using spectralis optical coherence tomography segmentation software. PLoS ONE, 10(6). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0129005.
  14. Ctori, I., Gruppetta, S. and Huntjens, B. (2015). The effects of ocular magnification on Spectralis spectral domain optical coherence tomography scan length. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol, 253(5), pp. 733–738. doi:10.1007/s00417-014-2915-9.
  15. Huntjens, B., Asaria, T.S., Dhanani, S., Konstantakopoulou, E. and Ctori, I. (2014). Macular pigment spatial profiles in South Asian and white subjects. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 55(3), pp. 1440–1446. doi:10.1167/iovs.13-13204.
  16. Huntjens, B., Charman, W.N., Workman, H., Hosking, S.L. and O'Donnell, C. (2012). Short-term stability in refractive status despite large fluctuations in glucose levels in diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2. PLoS One, 7(12). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052947.
  17. Huntjens, B. and O’Donnell, C. (2006). Refractive error changes in Diabetes Mellitus. Optometry in Practice, 7(3), pp. 103–114.

Conference papers and proceedings (25)

  1. Mihic, K., Hull, C.C., Nagra, M. and Huntjens, B. (2020). Inter-eye asymmetry in corneal topography and classification of corneal astigmatism.
  2. Huntjens, B., Mihic, K. and Hull, C.C. (2020). Difference in corneal asphericity and sagittal height between emmetropes and myopes.
  3. Hobby, A.E., Kozareva, D., Yonova-Doing, E., Hossain, I.T., Katta, M., Huntjens, B. … Mahroo, O.A. (2018). Effect of varying skin surface electrode position on electroretinogram responses recorded using a handheld stimulating and recording system.
  4. Hobby, A.E., Huntjens, B., Mahroo, O.A.R., Crabb, D.P. and Binns, A.M. (2018). Association between number of injections during long-term anti VEGF therapy and retinal electrophysiological parameters.
  5. Huntjens, B., McKellar, J.B., Ctori, I. and Powner, M. (2018). Ethnic variations in preferred retinal locus of fixation using Optical Coherence Tomography.
  6. McKellar, J.B., Ctori, I. and Huntjens, B. (2018). Foveal shape variation among gender and ethnicity.
  7. Huntjens, B., Mulder, J.A. and van Tilborg, M.M. (2018). Comparison between subjective fluorescein breakup time and automated tear breakup time measurements using the E300 corneal topographer.
  8. Mulder, J.A., van Tilborg, M.M. and Huntjens, B. (2018). The effect of fluorescein sodium volume on anterior eye surface measurements using the Medmont corneal topographer.
  9. Richer, S., Huntjens, B., Pratt, S., Rutledge, G., Perry, B., Novil, S. … Pratt, G. (2017). Is macular pigment spatial profile a clinical biomarker in children of AMD parents?
  10. Huntjens, B. and Ctori, I. (2016). Macular pigment spatial profile classification: are our eyes deceiving us?
  11. Ctori, I. and Huntjens, B. (2016). Do ethnic variations in foveal morphology explain variations in macular pigment spatial density distribution?
  12. Ctori, I. and Huntjens, B. (2016). Variations in normative foveal morphology SD-OCT data: A study of White, South Asian and Black ethnicities.
  13. Huntjens, B., Ctori, I., Mahroo, O., Williams, K. and Hammond, C. (2016). Classification and heritability of macular pigment spatial profile phenotypes using two-wavelength fundus autofluorescence.
  14. Huntjens, B. (2015). THE COMPLEXITY OF SPATIAL PROFILES OF MACULAR PIGMENT.
  15. Ctori, I. and Huntjens, B. (2015). THE EFFECT OF ETHNICITY ON THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN MACULAR PIGMENT DISTRIBUTION AND FOVEAL ANATOMY IN HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS.
  16. HUNTJENS, B. and CTORI, I. (2014). Variations and repeatability of macular pigment and its spatial profiles in south Asian and white subjects.
  17. CTORI, I. and HUNTJENS, B. (2014). Does foveal anatomy influence macular pigment and its spatial profile? A bi-racial study.
  18. Asaria, T.S., Dhanani, S.D., Barbur, J.L. and Huntjens, B. (2012). Macular Pigment Spatial Profiles in a Healthy Asian Population. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 6-10 May, Fort Lauderdale (USA).
  19. Dhanani, S.D., Asaria, T.S., Barbur, J.L. and Huntjens, B. (2012). Relationship between Macular Pigment and Foveal Anatomic Architecture in an Asian Population. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 6-10 May, Fort Lauderdale (USA).
  20. Huntjens, B., Radhakrishnan, H., Workman, H., Hosking, S.L. and O’Donnell, C. (2007). Diurnal Fluctuations in Higher-Order Aberrations in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 6-10 May, Fort Lauderdale (USA).
  21. O’Donnell, C., Workman, H., Hosking, S.L. and Huntjens, B. (2007). Diurnal Refractive Error Fluctuations in Diabetic and Control Subjects. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 6-11 May, Fort Lauderdale (USA).
  22. Workman, H., Hosking, S.L., Huntjens, B. and O’Donnell, C. (2007). Impact of Long-Term Diabetic Control and Short-Term
    Acute Changes in Blood Glucose Levels on the Visual
    Function of Diabetic Patients.     Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 6-11 May, Fort Lauderdale (USA).
  23. Huntjens, B. and O’Donnell, C. (2006). Diabetes mellitus and the eye: axial length. European Association for the Study of Diabetes 14-17 September, Copenhagen (Denmark).
  24. Huntjens, B., Workman, H., Hosking, S.L. and O'Donnell, C. (2005). Daily fluctuations in axial length in Diabetes Mellitus. American Academy of Optometry December, San Diego (USA).
  25. Hillarby, M., Huang, M.C., Huntjens, B., Dixon, J.A. and Tullo, A.B. (2004). Genes involved cell interactions are differentially expressed during human corneal transplant rejection.

Journal article

  1. Mulder, J.A., van Tilborg, M.M. and Huntjens, B. (2020). The effect of sodium fluorescein on anterior eye surface measurements. Contact Lens and Anterior Eye, 43(4), pp. 402–407. doi:10.1016/j.clae.2020.02.016.

Practitioners (5)

  1. (2020). Essential contact lens practice. Chapter 7 – Soft contact lens fitting. Optician magazine
  2. (2019). Orthokeratology lens design for myopia management. Optometry Today
  3. (2014). Refractive stability in diabetes. Optometry Today, pp. 48–52
  4. (2011). Autofluorescence in optometry. Optician, pp. 36–40
  5. (2009). Tracking laser tomography. Optician, pp. 12–15

Education

Educational Leadership

02 Module lead for OV2006 Contact Lenses I | MSc co-Module lead for Professional Higher Certificate in Contact Lenses | MSc co-Module lead for Professional Certificate in Medical Retina

Undergraduate Modules

OV1015 Visual optics | OV3025 Clinical and Professional Practice | OV3021 Research Studies

Postgraduate Modules

OVM056 Medical Retina | OVM006 Glaucoma | OVM032/057 Professional Higher Certificate in Contact Lenses | OVM061 Clinical Management Guidelines | APM002 SHS MSc Dissertation Module

Other Activities

Clinical activity (2)

  1. Optometrist, Olympic Eye Clinic, Olympic Village, Stratford UK, Jul – Aug 2012
  2. Primary Care Clinic (Fight for Sight eye clinic), City, University of London

Editorial activity

  1. PLoS ONE, Diabetic Medicine and Optometry & Vision Science, Reviewer.

Events/conferences (26)

  1. BCLA-UK. (Public lecture) London, UK (online) (2020). Invited speaker.
    Paper: Unveiling the Future of Practice within Contact Lens and Ocular Surface Health
    Author: Huntjens, B.
    Co-authors: Nagra, M.
  2. Eye Health In A Changing World by India Vision Institute. (Public lecture) India (online) (2020). Invited speaker.
    Paper: Soft Contact Lens: Practice vs Education. Keratometry
    Author: Huntjens, B.
  3. EAOO/ IACLE Contact lens special interest group. (Conference) London (online) (2020). Invited speaker.
    Paper: Does keratometry still have a place in modern soft CL fitting?
    Author: Huntjens, B.
  4. Back to contact lenses by IACLE. (Conference) London (online) (2020). Invited speaker.
    Paper: Gearing up for the new normal in education: Assessment
    Author: Huntjens, B.
  5. BCLA. (Conference) Manchester, UK (2019).
    Paper: Between-eye asymmetry in corneal topography and its association with gender
    Author: Mihic, K.
    Co-authors: Hull, C., Nagra, M., Huntjens, B.
  6. BCLA. (Conference) Manchester, UK (2019).
    Paper: Patient Attitudes to Presbyopia and its Correction
    Author: Hutchins, B.
    Co-authors: Huntjens, B.
  7. IACLE / BUCCLE Education Day. (Seminar) Manchester, UK (2019). Invited speaker.
    Paper: How to create a scientific poster
    Author: Huntjens, B.
  8. ARVO. (Conference) Honolulu, Hawaii (2018).
    Paper: Ethnic variations in preferred retinal locus of fixation using OCT
    Author: Huntjens, B.
    Co-authors: McKellar, J.; Ctori, I.; Powner, M.
  9. ARVO. (Conference) Honolulu, Hawaii (2018).
    Paper: Foveal shape variation among gender and ethnicity
    Author: McKellar, J.
    Co-authors: Ctori, I.; Huntjens, B.
  10. ARVO. (Conference) Honolulu, Hawaii (2018).
    Paper: The relationship between number of anti-VEGF injections and retinal function as measured by full-field electroretinogram
    Author: Hobby, A.
    Co-authors: Huntjens, B.; Mahroo, O.; Crabb, D.; Binns, A.
  11. NCC/ BCLA. (Conference) Eindhoven, The Netherlands (2018). Session/Day Chair.
    Paper: Comparison between subjective fluorescein breakup time and automated tear breakup time measurements using the E300 corneal topographer
    Author: Huntjens, B.
    Co-authors: Mulder, J.; van Tilborg, M.
  12. NCC/ BCLA. (Conference) Eindhoven, The Netherlands (2018).
    Paper: The effect of fluorescein sodium volume on anterior eye surface measurements using the Medmont corneal topographer
    Author: Mulder, J.
    Co-authors: van Tilborg, M.; Huntjens, B.
  13. 100% Optical. (Seminar) London, United Kingdom (2018).
    Paper: Peer discussion session: contact lenses and ocular surface
    Author: Huntjens, B.
    Co-authors: Nagra, N.; Vagdia, B.
  14. 100% Optical. (Seminar) London, UK (2017).
    Paper: Clinical Case Studies: the use of OCT in practice
    Author: Heitmar, R.
    Co-authors: Huntjens, B.
    Description: https://www.100percentoptical.com/education/seminars/seminar/41
  15. Workshops in Contact lenses (City WinC). (Workshop) London, UK (2017). Organising Committee.
    Paper: Dry eye
    Author: Huntjens, B.
    Co-authors: Nagra, M.
    Description: http://www.city.ac.uk/events/2017/january/workshops-in-contact-lenses
  16. Workshops in Contact lenses (City WinC). (Workshop) London, UK (2017). Organising Committee.
    Paper: Complex contact lens fittings workshops
    Author: Nagra, M.
    Co-authors: Huntjens, B.
    Description: http://www.city.ac.uk/events/2017/january/workshops-in-contact-lenses
  17. British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) UK conference. (Workshop) Sutton Coldfield, UK (2016). Invited speaker.
    Paper: OCT use in anterior segment
    Author: Nagra, M.
    Co-authors: Huntjens, B.
  18. European Academy of Optometry and Optics (EAOO). (Conference) Berlin, Germany (2016).
    Paper: DISCUSSION WORKSHOP Retinal pathology using OCT
    Author: Heitmar, R.
    Co-authors: Huntjens, B
  19. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). (Conference) Seattle, USA (2016).
    Paper: Macular pigment spatial profile classification: are our eyes deceiving us?
    Author: Huntjens, B
    Co-authors: Ctori, C
  20. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). (Conference) Seattle, USA (2016).
    Paper: Do ethnic variations in foveal morphology explain variations in macular pigment spatial density distribution?
    Author: Ctori, C
    Co-authors: Huntjens, B
  21. Health Has Got Talent. (Conference) City University London (2015).
    Paper: My Experiences in the Big Chair: Service User Experiences of Eye Diseases
    Author: Huntjens, B.
    Description: http://mediaspace.city.ac.uk/media/Health's+Got+Talent+-+Meet+the+Talent+2015/1_gu0az54r
  22. Summer School: 'Eye care and Diabetes; the bigger picture'. Hogeschool van Utrecht, The Netherlands (2013).
    Paper: Screening of Diabetic Retinopathy in an optometric practice
    Author: Huntjens, B.
  23. Summer School: 'Eye care and Diabetes; the bigger picture'. (Public lecture) Hogeschool van Utrecht, The Netherlands (2012). Invited speaker.
    Paper: Screening of Diabetic Retinopathy in an optometric practice
    Author: Huntjens, B.
  24. Learning at City conference. (Conference) City University London (2012).
    Paper: An innovative approach using feedback from Personal Response System technology
    Author: Huntjens, B.
  25. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). (Conference) Fort Lauderdale (USA (2012).
    Paper: Macular Pigment Spatial Profiles in a Healthy Asian Population
    Author: Asaria, TS.
    Co-authors: Dhanani, SD.; Barbur, JL.; Huntjens, B.
    Description: Recipient of the College of Optometrists travel award.
  26. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). (Conference) Fort Lauderdale (USA) (2012).
    Paper: Relationship between Macular Pigment and Foveal Anatomic Architecture in an Asian Population
    Author: Dhanani, SD.
    Co-authors: Asaria, TS.; Barbur, JL.; Huntjens, B.
    Description: Recipient of the Women in Eye and Vision Research (WEAVR) student travel award.

Online articles (4)

  1. Health Has Got Talent 2015: ‘My experiences in the Big Chair’ – Service user experiences of common eye diseases. (2015). Learning at City - educational vignettes
  2. City, University of London launches its first two day contact lens workshops event. (2016). Optometry Today City WinC: www.city.ac.uk/events/2017/january/workshops-in-contact-lenses
  3. First two-day contact lens workshops event launched at City. (2017). City, University of London website
  4. Milestone contact lens workshop declared a success. (2017). Optometry Today

Other (4)

  1. Podcast: Dry Eye Basics, BCLA@Yours (Nov 2020 – present).
  2. Podcast: Can we use an evidence based approach to adapt contact lens work during COVID-19, BCLA@Yours (Sep 2020).
  3. Huntjens, B: CET Screening of Diabetic Retinopathy in optometric practise (online lectures for Optometry Today TV).
  4. Taught Evidence Based Practice for optometry staff in Israel (2 days Tel Aviv; 2 days Jerusalem) as part of the OCULUS project (June 2018).