Dr Angharad Hobby
- hobbyae2@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 (0)29 2087 0588
- 1.26/2.19, Optometry and Vision Sciences, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ
Overview
As an optometrist and researcher my main clinical interests lie in paediatric optometry and low vision, and my research interests are in clinical research and public health.
I am currently working on two public/population health projects. The first is examining acute eye conditions in primary and secondary care where we are investigating the unmet need to better understand each of the different providers of urgent eye care. The second is an evaluation of pilot schemes for new community-based eye care services designed to alleviate progressively unsustainable pressures on hospital ophthalmology outpatient services. I am using mixed methods approaches for evaluation in these projects including Patient Reported Outcome Measures, Patient Reported Experience Measures, and participant interviews. This research is supported and funded by the Accelerate program and WEFO.
My other roles within the school include chairing the Research Staff Forum, organising the Postgraduate Research seminar series, and assisting with teaching and admissions when required. Outside of the school I'm a Council and Board member of Optometry Wales, a STEM Ambassador, and practice clinically as a locum and hospital optometrist in the Cardiff and Vale, Cwm Taf Morgannwg, and Swansea Bay areas.
I completed my PhD as part of the David Crabb Lab at City, University of London. This research was funded by the College of Optometrists and investigated the long-term effect of anti-VEGF therapy on retinal structure and function in persons with neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration.
Biography
Qualifications
- 2021 - PhD in Optometry and Vision Sciences, City, University of London, UK
- 2015 - Associate Fellow of the Higher Edcation Academy (AFHEA)
- 2014 - Member of the College of Optometrists (MCOptom)
- 2013 - BSc (Hons) in Optometry, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
Academic Positions
- 2018 - present, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Cardiff University, UK
Clinical Positions
- 2021 - present, COVID19 Immuniser, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
- 2018 - present, Senior/Bank Hospital Optometrist, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, and Swansea Bay University Health Board, South Wales, UK
- 2014 - present, Locum Optometrist, Hampshire and Wales, UK
- 2015 - 2017, Low Vision Specialist Optometrist, East Sussex NHS Healthcare Trust, Eastbourne, UK
- 2013 - 2014, Optometrist/Pre-Registration Optometrist, Davies and Jones Optometrists, Rhondda Valley, UK
Honours and awards
2018
- Travel Grant (£1000) to attend ARVO 2018 Conference, Honolulu HI. Awarded by the College of Optometrists
2016
- Poster awarded ‘Hot Topic’ status at ARVO 2016 Conference, Seattle WA
- Best poster prize - School of Health Science Doctoral Research Conference, City, University of London
2014
- Optician Awards ‘Leader of the Future’ award (winner)
- Association of Optometrists ‘Student of the Year’ award (winner)
2013
- CiBA Vision prize for the best CAL (Computer Aided Learning) dissertation
- Association of Optometrists ‘Student of the Year’ award (runner up)
Professional memberships
- Registered with the General Optical Council (01-28153)
- Member of The College of Optometrists (MCOptom)
- Member of the Association of Optometirsts
- Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA)
Academic positions
- 2014 - 2019: PhD Researcher, City, University of London, UK
- 2015 - 2018: Postgraduate Clinical Tutor: City, University of London, UK
- 2018: Research Assistant, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, UK
- 2017: Researcher, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK
- 2015 - 2017: Researcher, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK
Speaking engagements
- Functional Assesment of the Retina with Electroretinography, Hospital Optometrists Annual Conference, Stratford-Upon-Avon, UK (2018)
- Cornea to Cortex, Cardiff University (2017)
Committees and reviewing
- BCOVS conference committee member, 2020 & 2021
- Women in Vision UK Committee - Early Career Researcher Representative (2019 - 2020)
- Optometry Wales, Council Member (2019 - present), Board Member (2021 - present)
- The College of Optometrists - Council Member (Wales 2019 - 2020, South East 2017 - 2019), Research Committee Member (2017 - 2020), Newly Qualified Optometrist Reference Group Member (2015 - 2019)
Publications
2022
- Shah, R. et al. 2022. Referrals from community optometrists to the hospital eye service in Scotland and England. Eye 36, pp. 1754-1760. (10.1038/s41433-021-01728-2)
- Strong, S. et al. 2022. British Congress of Optometry and Vision Science 2021. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics 42(1), pp. 226-229. (10.1111/opo.12899)
2021
- Evans, B. J. W. et al. 2021. Referrals from community optometrists to the hospital eye service in England. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics 41(2), pp. 365-377. (10.1111/opo.12772)
2020
- Waldie, A. M. et al. 2020. Electrophysiological assessment in Birdshot Chorioretinopathy: use of a portable device in the clinic. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 61(7), article number: 5045.
2019
- Pekacka, A., Hobby, A., Chow, I., Indusegaran, M., Hammond, C., Stanford, M. and Mahroo, O. 2019. Comparison of peak times of photopic flicker electroretinogram responses recorded using conventional and portable systems in Birdshot chorioretinopathy. Acta Ophthalmologica 97(S263), pp. -. (10.1111/j.1755-3768.2019.5441)
2018
- Hobby, A. et al. 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. (10.1007/s10633-018-9652-z)
- Hobby, A., Huntjens, B., Mahroo, O. A. R., Crabb, D. P. and Binns, A. 2018. Association between number of injections during long-term anti VEGF therapy and retinal electrophysiological parameters. Presented at: ARVO Annual Meeting 2018, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, 29 April - 3 May 2018.
2016
- Taylor, D. J., Hobby, A., Binns, A. and Crabb, D. P. 2016. How does age-related macular degeneration affect real-world visual ability and quality of life? A systematic review. BMJ Open 6(12), article number: e01150. (10.1136/bmjopen-2016-011504)
- Tucker, W. R., Hobby, A., Hossain, I. T., Hammond, C. J., Standford, M. R. and Mahroo, O. A. R. 2016. Exploring associations between anatomical and functional parameters in Birdshot chorioretinopathy using optical coherence tomography and electroretinography. Presented at: ARVO Annual Meeting 2016, Seattle, Washington, 1-5 May 2016.
- Hobby, A. et al. 2016. Effect of varying skin surface electrode position on electroretinogram responses recorded using a handheld stimulating and recording system. Presented at: ARVO Annual Meeting 2016, Seattle, Washington, 1 - 5 May 2016.
- Mahroo, O. A. R. et al. 2016. Towards rapid assessment of retinal function in clinic: comparison of implicit times of photopic flicker electroretinogram responses recorded using a conventional and a portable system in patients with Birdshot chorioretinopathy. Presented at: ARVO Annual Meeting 2016, Seattle, Washington, 1st - 5th May 2016.
Teaching
I am currently a clinical tutor on various WOPEC courses including:
- Optical Assistant Training Course
- EHEW Accreditation/Reaccreditation
- C21 Ophthalmology (Undergraduate Medicine)
My main research interests are in clinical research and public health. I am currently working on two public/population health projects examining acute eye conditions in primary and secondary care, and pilots schemes for new community-based eye care services.
Presented Research
- Paper Presentation, EURETINA 2018, Vienna, Austria
- Poster Presentation, ARVO 2018, Honolulu, HI
- Paper Presentation, BCOVS 2017, Plymouth, England
- Paper Presentation, City, University of London, Doctoral Research Conference 2017, London, UK
- Poster Presentation, Optometry Tomorrow 2017, Birmingham, England
- Paper Presentation, BCOVS 2016, Coleraine, Northern Ireland
- Poster Presentation, ARVO 2016, Seattle, WA
- Poster Presentation, City, UoL Doctoral Research Conference 2016, London, UK
- Poster Presentation, BriSCEV 2015 Conference, Oxford, England
- Poster Presentation, BCOVS 2015, City, University of London, London, England
- Poster Presentation, City, UoL Doctoral Research Conference 2015, London, UK
Funding
- 2018, The College of Optometrists Travel Grant (ARVO 2018)
- 2014, The College of Optometrists PhD Scholarship