Eye injuries: improving our practice.

Most eye health workers are involved in managing trauma. In fact, ocular injuries around the world make up a major part of daily ophthalmic clinical practice. Eye injuries range from mild, non sight-threatening, to extremely serious with blinding consequences

The concept of noise in medical visualisations perceived through a contemporary drawing practice

This research project explores how the concept of noise in medical visualisations is perceived through an analogue visual arts practice. Noise – which is the informational opposite to signal in science – is an unknown and visually ambiguous aspect of medical visualisations. A residency in a medical imaging institution was undertaken to investigate scientists’ perceptions of noise and to identify its key attributes. Conversations with contemporary artists and an examination of their work, explored how noise attributes are used as a strategy in their practices. Theories from art history and the neuropsychology of vision were used to interrogate how noise is implicated in visual perception. Critically, my on-going drawing exploration using instruments of vision, biosensor technologies and responding to unknown stimuli was a primary method of investigation used to understand how an analogue drawing practice perceives noise. My research identified that unknown movements and interactions are deeply implicated in the generation of noise and that the distinction between signal and noise is unstable. My practice-based investigations revealed that all my sensory perceptions become heightened in response to noise, so that vision becomes inseparable from them. This was an important difference between scientists’ and artists’ perceptions of noise, for scientists do not recognise the full sensorium in their practice. The writings of Jean-Luc Nancy and Michel Serres were used to elucidate this process. This research demonstrates the differences between artistic and scientific perceptual responses to ambiguity, the unknown and to noise. It evidences that artistic responses to noise can be a catalyst for change, generating new ways of perceiving, working and making. It contributes to an under-represented area of research: how an analogue arts practice perceives the digital concept of noise. Furthermore, my project indicates that analogue drawing could be used as a method in scientific training to explore visual ambiguity

Instruments for cataract surgery: results from our survey

For any operation, including cataract surgery, the appropriate instruments must be available and in good working order. If instruments are not available, or are blunt, or do not function properly, it may be necessary to delay or postpone surgery. Using such instruments in an operation can result in a poor outcome, or even pose a risk to surgeons and their assistants.The impact is therefore considerable, and can damage the reputation of the hospital in the community

Encouraging eye care workers to stay: the role of investment and management.

Considering how expensive it is to train, recruit and employ eye health personnel, it makes sense to invest time and energy into creating a positive and productive working environment

Open educational resources.

Historically, ‘open education’ has involved making education more accessible, whether by lowering cost or by enabling delivery at a distance. In our technological age, open education has become a global sharing of knowledge and ideas through the Internet

Talking with eye injury patients.

Patients with an eye injury are usually in pain and very frightened. They need a gentle, reassuring approach. Your first task is to assess the general state of your patient. If they are alert and orientated and their general health is good, you can continue to examine them in the eye department. If their immediate general health is at risk, you will have to address this first

The role of secondary level eye care teams in engaging with and supporting primary eye care.

Primary eye health care teams have the potential to drastically reduce the burden on secondary level eye care teams and to improve access and quality of care for patients – provided they receive the support they need

Human resources for eye health: ensuring a smooth pipeline.

Health workforce planning improves when activities in the education system align with labour market dynamics