Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Comparative Cytotoxic Evaluation Of Acrylamide And Diacetone Acrylamide To Investigate Their Suitability For Holographic Photopolymer Formulations, Dervil Cody, Alan Casey, Izabela Naydenova, Emilia Mihaylova

Articles

The comparative cytotoxic evaluation of two monomers Diacetone Acrylamide (DA) and Acrylamide (AA), used in holographic photopolymer formulations, is reported. Two normal cell lines were used: BEAS-2B and HaCaT. Cellular viability was assessed using the MTT assay for three different exposure times. A difference of two orders of magnitude is observed in the Lethal Dose (LD50) concentrations of the two monomers. Diacetone Acrylamide exhibits a significantly lower toxicity profile in comparison to Acrylamide at all exposure times. This result justifies the replacement of Acrylamide with Diacetone Acrylamide in the photopolymer formulation, with the view to reducing occupational hazard risks for …

An Economic Analysis Of The Impact Of Refractive Error In Mozambique, Stephen Thompson

Conference Papers

Mozambique eyecare project carried out in June 2013 to estimate the socio-economic benefit of an Optometry Programme by calculating the benefits of addressing refractive error in terms of productivity gained as a result of the intervention.

The Development Of A Public Optometry System In Mozambique: A Cost Benefit Analysis, Stephen Thompson, James Loughman

Articles

The economic burden of uncorrected refractive error (URE) is thought to be high in Mozambique, largely as a consequence of the lack of resources and systems to tackle this largely avoidable problem. The Mozambique Eyecare Project (MEP) has established the first optometry training and human resource deployment initiative to address the burden of URE in Lusophone Africa. The nature of the MEP programme provides the opportunity to determine, using Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA), whether investing in the establishment and delivery of a comprehensive system for optometry human resource development and public sector deployment is economically justifiable for Lusophone Africa.

Considerations In The Design Of An Eye Health Programme For Nampula, Mozambique, Aoife Phelan, Lisa O'Donoghue, Kovin Naidoo, Kathryn Saunders, James Loughman

Conference Papers

Introduction/Purpose:

There are almost twelve million children (<18 >years) in Mozambique with minimal access to eye care. [1] Annual screening of school children by teachers for uncorrected refractive error is one of the most cost effective health interventions in Sub Saharan Africa.[2] The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) has recommended that child eye health interventions be incorporated into National School Health Initiatives.[3]

In view of the IAPB position this presentation sets out to identify and discuss the main considerations in the design of a child eye health strategy, for the province of Nampula, Mozambique, which aligns itself …

Considerations In The Design Of An Eye Health Programme For Nampula, Mozambique, Aoife Phelan, Lisa O'Donoghue, Kovin Naidoo, Kathryn Saunders, James Loughman

Other

Introduction/Purpose:

There are almost twelve million children (years) in Mozambique with minimal access to eye care. [1] Annual screening of school children by teachers for uncorrected refractive error is one of the most cost effective health interventions in Sub Saharan Africa.[2] The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) has recommended that child eye health interventions be incorporated into National School Health Initiatives.[3]

In view of the IAPB position this presentation sets out to identify and discuss the main considerations in the design of a child eye health strategy, for the province of Nampula, Mozambique, which aligns itself with …

Evaluations Of Exit Competencies Of Optometrists In Mozambique, Kajal Shah, James Loughman

Other

Introduction: The appropriate education for eye health workers is a key determinant of sustainable eye health care systems, and the solution to avoidable blindness and visual impairment. The Mozambique Eye care Project (MEP), is developing the country's first indigenously trained optometrists using a competency-based education curriculum.

Aims: The principal aim is to evaluate the exit clinical competencies of the first optometry graduates in Mozambique and to inform the evaluation of the competency curriculum.

Methods: Using UK based competencies as a benchmark; nine final year students were examined to assess competences in six core subjects.Further information about factors relating to their …

Evaluations Of Exit Competencies Of Optometrists In Mozambique, Kajal Shah, James Loughman

Conference Papers

Introduction: The appropriate education for eye health workers is a key determinant of sustainable eye health care systems, and the solution to avoidable blindness and visual impairment. The Mozambique Eye care Project (MEP), is developing the country's first indigenously trained optometrists using a competency-based education curriculum.

Aims: The principal aim is to evaluate the exit clinical competencies of the first optometry graduates in Mozambique and to inform the evaluation of the competency curriculum.

Methods: Using UK based competencies as a benchmark; nine final year students were examined to assess competences in six core subjects.Further information about factors relating to their …

Impact Of Computer Experience On The Viability And Repeatablity Of The Moorfields Motion Displacement Test In A Developing And Underserved African Setting, James Loughman, Carmen Gonzalez Alvarez, Gay Mary Verdon-Roe, Roger Anderson, Ramos Antonio Manuel, Kovin Naidoo

Articles

Background: The current study was designed to explore the effect of computer experience on the viability and testretest repeatability of the Moorfields Motion Displacement Test (MMDT), a novel computer-driven glaucoma screening device, in an African community setting. Methods: 164 healthy subjects were recruited from a semi-rural Mozambican environment, and stratified according to computer experience (computer naïve: n=85, computer familiar: n=79). A suprathreshold screening test algorithm was employed, and the global probability of true damage (GPTD), testing time (TT) and false positive (FP) response rate were recorded. The visual field test was conducted twice on the same eye, and results compared …

The Development Of A Public Optometry System In Mozambique: A Cost Benefit Analysis, Stephen Thompson, James Loughman

Conference Papers

No abstract provided.

Suitability And Repeatability Of A Photostress Recovery Test Device, The Macular Degeneration Detector (Mdd-2), For Diabetes And Diabetic Retinopathy Assessment, James Loughman, Matthew Ratzlaff, Brittany Foerg, Paul Connell

Articles

Background: Diabetic retinopathy can result in impaired photostress recovery time despite normal visual acuity and fundoscopic appearance. The Macular Degeneration Detector (MDD-2) is a novel flash photostress recovery time device. In this study, we examine the repeatability of the MDD-2 in normal and diabetic subjects. Methods: One hundred and ninety one (90 women, 101 men) subjects were recruited and divided into 1 of the 3 study groups (normal controls, n = 40; diabetes no retinopathy, n = 98; nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, n = 53). Photostress recovery time was measured three times in the study eye using the MDD-2, each measurement …

Evidence Of Lower Macular Pigment Optical Density In Chronic Open Angle Glaucoma, Estera Igras, James Loughman, Matthew Ratzlaff, Ronal O'Caoimh, Colm O'Brien

Articles

Background/aims Macular pigment (MP) plays an important role in visual function and in the protection of the retina from oxidative damage. It is not known whether glaucoma, a progressive neurodegenerative disease of the optic nerve, is associated with alterations in MP. This study was designed to investigate the relationship, if any, between the optical density of MP optical density (MPOD) and glaucoma.

Methods 40 subjects (23 males, 17 females) with open angle glaucoma (mean age 69 ±11), and 54 normal controls (23 males, 31 females) without ocular disease (mean age 66 ±11), visual acuity (VA) >6/18, were recruited, and underwent …

Relationship Between Fear Of Falling And Mobility Varies With Visual Function Among Older Adults, Orna Donoghue, Harriet Ryan, Eoin Duggan, Ciaran Finucane, George Sava, Hilary Cronin, James Loughman, Rose Anne Kenny

Articles

Aim: The present study examined the association between vision, fear of falling and fear-related activity restriction, and assessed the effect of vision on the relationship between fear of falling and mobility, using data from a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling adults aged ≥50 years. Methods: Participants (n = 5003) completed an interview and health assessment (including Timed Up-and-Go, vision and cognitive tests). Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were assessed using an Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study logMAR chart and Functional Vision Analyzer, respectively. Participants self-reported their vision as excellent, very good, good, fair or poor. They were assigned to no …