Dr Gemma Arblaster

BMedSci (Hons) Orthoptics, MSc, PhD, FHEA

School of Allied Health, Pharmacy, Nursing and Midwifery

Deputy Professional Lead for Ophthalmology and Orthoptics

Lecturer in Orthoptics

Gemma Arblaster
Profile picture of Gemma Arblaster
g.arblaster@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 215 9055
Room 301a, 362 Mushroom Lane

Full contact details

Dr Gemma Arblaster
School of Allied Health, Pharmacy, Nursing and Midwifery
Room 301a
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 PhD, funded by the NIHR, in 2021 researching the outcomes of strabismus surgery when undertaken for psychosocial reasons. 

I have been a Lecturer in Orthoptics at the ±¬ÁÏTV since 2011 and am currently the Deputy Professional Lead for Orthoptics and Ophthalmology. I maintain a clinical orthoptic role at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS FT. 

Qualifications

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2024)

PhD, ±¬ÁÏTV (2017–2021)

MSc Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science, UMIST (2001–2003)

BMedSci (Hons) Orthoptics 1st Class, ±¬ÁÏTV (1998–2001)

Research interests

My research interests are in orthoptics, strabismus, binocular vision, ocular motility, nystagmus, eye tracking and low vision. 

I supervise research projects for undergraduate (BMedSci Orthoptics) and postgraduate students (MMedSci Vision and Strabismus; MMedSci Ophthalmology Advance Clinical Practice (Paediatrics)), as well as PhD students.

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.

Reports

  • Arblaster G, Simmons J & Martin R (2026) British and Irish Orthoptic Society. Enhanced Level Clinical Practice - Scoping Exercise 2024

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.

Vision and Strabismus MMedSci and Ophthalmology ACP (Paediatrics) MMedSci students supervised to completion:

  • Tomos Harding Neale, Southampton, UK.
    • Visual field loss and rate of reading in stroke survivors.
  • Laura Hardwick, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS FT, UK
    • Developing Orthoptic practice in Thyroid Eye Disease
  • Kate Hon, King’s College Hospital Trust, UK
    • Paediatric quality of life after strabismus surgery
  • Emily Walker, Worcestershire Acute Hospital Trust, UK
    • Charles Bonnet Syndrome
  • Hareem Esmail, Newcastle, UK
    • The assessment of vision in children with learning difficulties
  • Jannicke Roe, Norway.
    • The opinions of Scandinavian Orthoptists - treating amblyopia in microtropia.
  • Rachel McKevitt, UK. 
    • Testing visual acuity in children at home.
  • Linda Groenveld, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
    • Quality of life after adult strabismus surgery.
  • 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, 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 Steel, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS FT, UK
    • Amblyopia treatment and quality of life: The child's perspective on atropine versus patching.
Teaching interests

My teaching interests are orthoptics, clinical orthoptics, strabismus, ocular motility, eye tracking and low vision. 

At undergraduate level I lead modules:

  • HES115 Anatomy and Physiology (Orthoptics)

  • HES116 Ocular Anatomy, Physiology and Neuroanatomy

  • HES340 Ophthalmology

At postgraduate level I lead the module:

  • HES427 Concomitance and Incomitance in Depth

For clinical examinations (orthoptics and ophthalmology) 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
  • Member of the British and Irish Orthoptic Society
  • Editor in Chief of the 
  • BIOS co-lead: Strabismus and Ocular Motility Clinical Advisory Group
  • Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.
  • Member of British Isles Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Association (BIPOSA)
  • BIPOSA membership secretary
  • Research advisor for Nystagmus Network (charity)
  • Member of the Nystagmus Network UK Research Group (NUKE)
  • Member of the International Society of Clinical Eye Tracking (ISCET)
  • Member of Women in Vision UK group

I currently practice as an Orthoptist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS FT. My previous clinical roles have been in Nottingham, Manchester and Cambridge.