A flyer for this research participation opportunity giving the same information as in the blog post and including a thumbnail image of Katherine.

Have a brain scan for research – recruiting now!

Aged 18-55?

Diagnosed with infantile nystagmus?

Within travelling distance of Cardiff?

Researchers at Cardiff University invite you to take part in an exciting research study looking into brain activity in infantile nystagmus

What does it involve?

  • A quick eye examination
  • Lie in an MRI scanner and look at moving shapes and patterns on a screen

Where and when will it be?

  • At Cardiff University
  • From now until May 2024

Who will run the session?

Katherine Ward, optometrist and PhD researcher at Cardiff University

Travel expenses

Travel expenses will be paid up to £50

For more information, please contact Katherine at [email protected]

 

A flyer including details of Symposium2022

#Symposium2022

Researchers, clinicians and students working in the field of nystagmus research are invited to attend this free international event, hosted by the Nystagmus Network on Friday 24 June 2022.

Abstracts submissions

If you would like to deliver a 15 minute presentation on your work in nystagmus, please submit an abstract. We welcome topics leading to the advancement of our understanding of nystagmus, including (but not limited to) diagnostics, genetics, treatments and therapies, management and support.

300 words max
no later than 30 April email: s[email protected]

Successful applicants will be required to deliver a 15 minute presentation of their work, in person or online, and be prepared to answer questions. Presentations should be in PowerPoint.

Registration

Delegates are invited to attend in person or online. There is no registration fee, but please note that you are required to cover all your own expenses if attending in person. Please register below. Thank you

Please note that this event is strictly for researchers, academics, clinicians and students in the field of nystagmus research only – thank you.

Register here for Symposium2022

A postcard with pictures of people walking and the words Nystagmus Network walk 500 miles for nystagmus research.

Could you help us walk 500 miles?

If 50 people each walked 10 miles and raised £100 in sponsorship, that would be £5,000 for nystagmus research.

Why 500 miles?

That’s roughly the distance you’d cover if you walked from one UK nystagmus research centre to all the others. Let’s see if we can do it!

Starting at University Hospital, Plymouth, calling at The University of SouthamptonCardiff UniversityMoorfields, LondonThe University of Leicester, you’d eventually arrive at the University of Sheffield some 565 miles later. But you can walk just 10 miles.

What would £5,000 buy?

Here’s a list of just some of the things Nystagmus Network trustees could invest £5,000 in:

  • diagnostic equipment for use in a research or clinical setting
  • an academic post to focus on an aspect of nystagmus
  • a brand new in person nystagmus research trial

How to set up your 10 mile walk

  1. Decide on your route – you can build up your 10 miles with lots of shorter walks over several days
  2. Set up your Justgiving page for your sponsors here; we’ll help you promote it
  3. Download a sponsor form here for your offline donations
  4. Tell all your friends and family about your walk
  5. Tell the Nystagmus Network!
Jon Erichsen speaks with delegates at a Nystagmus Network Open Day.

Take part in research at Cardiff University

Professor Jon Erichsen and his team from the School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Nikita Thomas, Katherine Ward and Onyeka Amiebenomo invite you to take part in nystagmus research.

Following their demonstrations at virtual Open Day 2021 of various nystagmus and eye tracking studies currently being carried out, you are warmly invited to apply to take part.

If you’re interested, please complete the form below. We will pass your details on to the Cardiff University team, who will be in touch with you.

Head shot of Nikita Thomas

Congratulations, Nikita

On World Sight Day 2020, the Nystagmus Network is delighted to celebrate the achievement of Nikita Thomas who has been named an Eye Health Hero by the IAPB (the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness).

Nikita, who works in nystagmus research at the University of Cardiff, was nominated by the Nystagmus Network and has achieved her award in the ‘Innovators’ category.

Innovators embrace new ideas and create new possibilities and outcomes. They challenge the status quo and push the boundaries of knowledge to develop new approaches, systems or appropriate technologies in eye health.

Cited for her innovative developmental work in the field of perimetry, Nikita says: “I have a deep-rooted passion for creating solutions that promote equality of access to standard optometric and ophthalmic clinical practices across different patient groups. This has involved transforming the commonly used method of visual field testing into a method that allows for accurate examination of the visual field in patients with voluntary and involuntary unstable fixation, such as nystagmus. I love that my role offers the freedom and flexibility to fully explore my own concepts and ideas, as well as the potential to make a worldwide impact on established clinical procedures.”

The Nystagmus Network added: “Always engaging, professional and knowledgeable, Nikita Thomas is a very popular research delegate at the annual Nystagmus Network Open Day and a poised and eloquent presenter when delivering presentations to members of our patient group.”

Her academic supervisors at The School of Optometry and vision Sciences at Cardiff University said: “Nikita’s work promises to have a significant impact on both the delivery of clinical eyecare and our understanding of the development of the human visual system.”

Congratulations, Nikita!

Read Nikita’s full IAPB citation here

Research into decision making for genetic testing

A team at Cardiff University is conducting a study to identify the factors that influence the decisions made by genetic counselling patients about proceeding with genetic tests. They are looking to recruit patients who are undergoing genetic testing or pre-natal testing to take part in the study by recording their thoughts and feelings as they go through the decision making process. 

FIND OUT MORE HERE.

Research on nystagmus and glaucoma

As previously reported here, the Research Unit for Nystagmus at Cardiff University has been looking for people with nystagmus to take part in a survey that aimed to further their understanding of the number of people with nystagmus who have also been diagnosed with glaucoma.

Nikita Thomas, of Cardiff’s School of Optometry and Vision Sciences says: “Thank you for sharing. We’ve had a fantastic response.”

The survey is now closed. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the study. We will report on progress as soon as we can.

A survey on glaucoma and nystagmus

You can support the University of Cardiff team to develop new diagnostic testing for people with nystagmus by taking their survey today.

“The Research Unit for Nystagmus at Cardiff University is looking for people with nystagmus to take part in a survey that aims to further our understanding on the number of people with nystagmus who have also been diagnosed with glaucoma.

“This survey will help us enhance our knowledge on how clinical tests can be improved to detect additional eye conditions in patients who already have nystagmus. The survey should take 5-6 minutes to complete. All answers are anonymised and will be kept confidential.”

Take part in the survey

Nystagmus Network UK research workshop 2019.

UK Nystagmus Research Workshop

The Nystagmus Network is today hosting the UK Nystagmus Research Workshop 2019 at the School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University. Delegates are joining us from the 6 UK centres of nystagmus research excellence. These are:

The School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University
The Ulverscroft Eye Unit, University of Leicester
Moorfields Eye Hospital, London
The Royal Eye Infirmary, Plymouth
The Academic Unit of Ophthalmology and Orthoptics, University of Sheffield
The University of Southampton and Southampton General Hospital

All delegates will also be attending the Nystagmus Network Open Day 2019 at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff on Saturday.

A survey on glaucoma and nystagmus

You can support the University of Cardiff team to develop new diagnostic testing for people with nystagmus by taking their survey today.

“The Research Unit for Nystagmus at Cardiff University is looking for people with nystagmus to take part in a survey that aims to further our understanding on the number of people with nystagmus who have also been diagnosed with glaucoma.

“This survey will help us enhance our knowledge on how clinical tests can be improved to detect additional eye conditions in patients who already have nystagmus. The survey should take 5-6 minutes to complete. All answers are anonymised and will be kept confidential. “

Take part in the survey