Dr Gemma Arblaster

MSc, BMedSci (Hons) Orthoptics

School of Allied Health, Pharmacy, Nursing and Midwifery

Lecturer

g.arblaster@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 215 9055
362 Mushroom Lane

Full contact details

Dr Gemma Arblaster
School of Allied Health, Pharmacy, Nursing and Midwifery
362 Mushroom Lane
Sheffield
S10 2TS
Profile

I qualified as an Orthoptist in 2001 and during my career I have combined clinical Orthoptics with teaching and research.  I completed my MSc in Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science in 2003 and joined the University of Sheffield as Lecturer in Orthoptics in 2011. I have practised as an Orthoptist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust since 2007.

Research interests

I am currently undertaking an NIHR Clinical Research Fellowship, combining research into strabismus with clinical and research training.  My research project is:  'Measuring the effects of eye alignment surgery - a feasibility study'.  The aim of the study is to determine whether it is feasible to measure changes in vision and task performance in patients who have had strabismus surgery for psychosocial benefit. 

My other research interests include:

  • Unilateral vertical nystagmus and ocular motor stability after monocular vision loss (the Heimann-Bielschowsky Phenomenon).
  • Nystagmus - using virtual reality to simulate oscillopsia, raise awareness of nystagmus and improve the information given to patients with nystagmus.
  • Occlusion to improve control in intermittent exotropia.
  • Gross binocular single vision and new ways of quantifying binocular vision.

Current projects

  • NIHR Clinical Research Fellowship: Measuring the effects of eye alignment surgery - a feasibility study.
  • Simulating oscillopsia using virtual reality.
  • Improving the information given to patients with nystagmus.
Publications

Journal articles

  • Elgohary A, Eid T, Elseht R, Sabry M, Codina C & Arblaster G (2025) . British Journal of Visual Impairment, 1-12.
  • Wilson F, Arblaster G, Geraghty H, Graveling S, Hussain Z, Jackson N, Qamar Z, Rook E & Starsong E (2025) . Journal of Advanced Nursing, 81(7), 4241-4257.
  • Røe J & Arblaster G (2024) . British and Irish Orthoptic Journal, 20, 227-235.
  • Arblaster GE, Davis H, Buckley D & Barnes S (2024) . Eye, 38(15), 2926-2931.
  • Dunn MJ, Alexander RG, Amiebenomo OM, Arblaster G, Atan D, Erichsen JT, Ettinger U, Giardini ME, Gilchrist ID, Hamilton R , Hessels RS et al (2024) . Behavior Research Methods, 56(4), 4218-4219.
  • McBride A & Arblaster G (2024) . British and Irish Orthoptic Journal, 20(1), 133-145.
  • Arblaster G, Buckley D, Barnes S & Davis H (2024) . British and Irish Orthoptic Journal, 20(1), 107-132.
  • Esmail H, Arblaster G & Haslam L (2024) . British and Irish Orthoptic Journal, 20(1), 94-104.
  • Dunn M, Alexander R, Amiebenomo O, Arblaster G, Atan D, Erichsen J, Ettinger U, Giardini M, Gilchrist I, Hamilton R , Hessels R et al (2024) . Behavior Research Methods, 56(5), 4351-4357.
  • Daly MY, Codina CJ & Arblaster GE (2023) . Strabismus, 31(4), 237-243.
  • Bjerre A, Griffiths H, Foulds M & Arblaster G (2022) . British and Irish Orthoptic Journal, 18(1), 111-120.
  • Rennie K, Alagendran R, Lee H, Griffiths H, Theodorou M, Lee H, Self J, Shawkat F, Carter P, Erichsen J , Dunn M et al (2022) . BMC Ophthalmology, 22(1).
  • Burchell V-J, Arblaster G, Buckley D & Wheat J (2021) . British and Irish Orthoptic Journal, 17(1), 142-149.
  • Abadi RV, Akman OE, Arblaster GE & Clement RA (2021) . Scientific Reports, 11.
  • Self JE, Dunn MJ, Erichsen JT, Gottlob I, Griffiths HJ, Harris C, Lee H, Owen J, Sanders J, Shawkat F , Theodorou M et al (2020) . Eye, 34(9), 1515-1534.
  • Porter K & Arblaster G (2020) . British and Irish Orthoptic Journal, 16(1), 38-43.
  • Randall D, Fox SL, Fenner JW, Arblaster GE, Bjerre A & Griffiths HJ (2020) . Current Eye Research, 45(12), 1611-1618.
  • Self JE, Dunn MJ, Erichsen JT, Gottlob I, Griffiths HJ, Harris C, Lee H, Owen J, Sanders J, Shawkat F , Theodorou M et al (2020) . Eye (Basingstoke).
  • Steel DA, Codina CJ & Arblaster GE (2019) . Strabismus, 27(3), 156-164.
  • Lijka B, Toor S & Arblaster G (2019) . British and Irish Orthoptic Journal, 15(1), 8-14.
  • Randall D, Griffiths H, Arblaster G, Bjerre A & Fenner J (2018) . British and Irish Orthoptic Journal, 14, 45-49.
  • Coughlan A, Arblaster G & Burke JP (2018) . British and Irish Orthoptic Journal, 14(1), 30-34.
  • Bjerre A, Arblaster G, Nye A & Griffiths HJ (2018) . British and Irish Orthoptic Journal, 14(1), 25-29.
  • Arblaster G & Burke JP (2016) . Strabismus, 24(3), 93-96.
  • Esmail H & Arblaster G (2016) . British and Irish Orthoptic Journal, 13, 35-39.
  • Maqsud MA & Arblaster GE (2015) . Journal of American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, 19(2), 104-107.
  • Carlton J, Arblaster GE & Hughes LA (2013) The BIOJ: Evolution or Revolution?. Br Ir Orthopt J, 10, 66-67.
  • Carlton J, Arblaster GE & Hughes LA (2013) The BIOJ: a comparative review. Br I Orthopt J, 10, 3-10.
  • Arblaster G & Burke JP (2012) Restoration of binocular single vision following multiple treatments for longstanding bilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia and unilateral 3rd nerve paresis. Br I Orthopt J, 9, 70-73.
  • Arblaster GE, Shipman TL & Pepper IM (2009) . J AAPOS, 13(3), 310-311.
  • Houtman AC, Hocking G, Lloyd C & Biswas S (2009) Large-angle congenital exotropia due to 'absent' medial recti: a case of congenital cranial dysinnervation disorder. Eye, 23(6), 1489-1490.
  • Hocking G & Gage JE (2002) The Relationship Between The Strength of Sensory Fusion and Motor Fusion Amplitude. Br Orthopt J, 59, 45-49.

Conference proceedings

  • Arblaster G, Davis H, Buckley D & Barnes S (2019) What changes do patients report after strabismus surgery for planned psychosocial benefit?. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Vol. 60(9). Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 28 April 2019 - 28 April 2019.
  • Arblaster G & Hughes LA (2012) Retrospective Review of Occlusion Treatment for Intermittent Exotropia.. British Isles Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Association. Bournemouth, UK, 19 September 2012 - 21 September 2012.
  • Hocking GE (2005) Acquired Unilateral Vertical Nystagmus. 30th Meeting of the European Strabismological Association. Killarney, Ireland, 8 June 2005 - 11 June 2005.
  • Hocking GE (2005) Eye movements - isn't that what we do anyway?. Royal College of Ophthalmologists Congress. Birmingham, UK, 17 May 2005.
  • Hocking GE & Abadi RV (2004) The Heimann Bielschowsky Phenomenon: Unilateral Vertical Nystagmus. British Ocular Motor Group. Manchester, UK, 9 January 2004.
  • Hocking GE & Abadi RV (2004) The Heimann-Bielschowsky Phenomenon: An Acquired Unilateral Vertical Nystagmus Following Severe Monocular Visual Loss.. Transactions of the Xth International Orthoptic Congress. (pp 265-269). Melbourne, Australia, 14 November 2004 - 17 November 2004.
  • Hocking GE, Biswas S & Lloyd IC (2003) Case presentation: a child with congenital bilateral restriction of ADDuction - investigations, diagnosis and management.. British Childrens Eye Group. Manchester, UK, 6 June 2003.

Software, code or databases

  • Randall D, Griffiths H, Bjerre A & Arblaster GE (2016) Nystagmus Oscillopsia Simulator.

Posters

  • Arblaster G, Randall D, Rhodes M & Nicola M (2023) Low cost nystagmus recording: a pilot study. British and Irish Orthoptic Society Conference.
  • Arblaster G, Davis H, Buckley D & Barnes S (2019) What changes do patients report after strabismus surgery for planned psychosocial benefit?.
  • Arblaster G, Griffiths HJ & Bjerre A (2016) Patients as Educators - Enhancing Student Skills and the Curriculum. International Orthoptic Congress.
  • Arblaster G, Bjerre A, Griffiths HJ, Fox S, Burchell VJ & Kerekes F (2015) How can the patient experience for individuals with nystagmus be improved? - a patient and family perspective. British and Irish Orthoptic Society Annual Conference.
  • Arblaster G, Griffiths HJ, Bjerre A, Coughlan A, Darly L, Gibbings N, Mather F, McCourtney R, OBriain F & Robertson D (2015) Living with Nystagmus-The Patient's Perspective. British and Irish Orthoptic Society Annual Conference.
  • Arblaster G & Esmail HE (2015) Measuring the near point of accommodation: comparison of the conventional and modified push-up methods.. British and Irish Orthoptic Society Annual Conference.
  • Arblaster G & Hughes LA (2012) Retrospective Review of Occlusion Treatment for Intermittent Exotropia.. XIIth International Orthoptic Congress, Toronto, Canada..

Other

  • Arblaster G, Bjerre A & Griffiths HJ (2017) Nystagmus Information Pack.
  • Arblaster G (2014) The Effect of Ageing on the Visual System.

Preprints

  • Arblaster G, Davis H, Buckley D & Barnes S (2024) , Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
Research group

I have supervised undergraduate research project students and postgraduate research project students on the MMedSci (Vision & Strabismus) course.

MMedSci students supervised to completion:

  • Mahira Sheikh, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, UK.
    • Do the changes in visual acuity in children undergoing amblyopia therapy differ at near and distance?
  • Sarah Catherina Wittering, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
    • Reading at Distance: Does using an Interactive Whiteboard affect reading performance?
  • Mohammed Maqsud, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals Trust.
    • Study to investigate the incidence and final visual outcomes of children with bilateral refractive amblyopia referred from routine vision screening.
  • Deborah Steele, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
    • Amblyopia treatment and quality of life: The child's perspective on atropine versus patching.
Teaching interests

My teaching interests are orthoptics, clinical orthoptics, eye movements, strabismus and low vision. I have taught Orthoptics and Clinical Orthoptics to undergraduate students on the  course. I have also taught on the Low Vision module of the  course. 

For clinical examinations we invite volunteer patients to take part. If you are interested in taking part in our clinical examinations in the future, please contact the Patients as Educators team to discuss your suitability for our examinations. 

Professional activities and memberships

I currently practice as an Orthoptist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

My previous clinical Orthoptic experience includes roles at:

  • Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust - lead clinical tutor and extended Orthoptic role assessing post operative strabismus patients
  • Manchester Royal Eye Hospital
  • Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge
  • Member of the British & Irish Orthoptic Society
  • Registered with the Health & Care Professions Council