Dr Helen Griffiths [PhD, BSc (Hons), DBO]
Senior Lecturer in Orthoptics
Academic Unit of Ophthalmology & Orthoptics,
Department of Oncology,
The Medical School,
Beech Hill Road,
Sheffield,
S10 2RX,
UK.
Office: E104c
Tel: +44 (0) 114 271 3818
Fax: +44 (0) 114 271 3314
Email: h.griffiths@sheffield.ac.uk
Biography
I joined the University of Sheffield in 1995 as Lecturer In Orthoptics and have been involved in teaching, curriculum development and assessment of the B Med Sci (Orthoptics) and M Med Sci (Vision and Strabismus) Programme.
Research Interests
I have developed a research agenda which has contributed to curriculum development and teaching within the B Med Sci (Orthoptics) and M Med Sci programmes. My main interest is the investigation of sensory adaptations in strabismus using eye movement recordings.
I also collaborate with researchers in the Department of Psychology on Visual Function in Autism. Dr Elizabeth Milne, Dr David Buckley and myself were awarded an ERSC grant of £91 000 for this study.
I am collaborating with Dr David Buckley and Dr Charlotte Westerman in the study of Fixation in the Deaf. It has previously been shown that deaf people have superior visual fields and a larger retinal nerve fibre layer; we are extending this work to establish if the increased visual field is due to superior fixation ability and its relationship to the use of sign language.
Teaching Interests
My teaching is largely on the B Med Sci Orthoptics programme, in the subject areas of Orthoptics, Clinical Orthoptics and Medical Ethics. I have a particular interest in design and development of teaching resources to enhance the transition from lectures to the clinical environment, teaching delivery initiatives to expedite feedback and methods of assessing practical skills with optimum reliability.
Professional Activities
- Honorary Orthoptic Clinical Contract - Royal Hallamshire Hospital
- Health Professions Council - Partner
- Member of the Editorial Board of the British & Irish Orthoptic Journal
Student Support Roles
- Staff student committee academic staff representative
- Harassment and Bullying Advisor
- Careers Liaison Officer
- Mentor Contact
Current Projects
- The effect of luminance on performance of visual tasks with Fresnel prisms
- The effect of motion on visual performance with Fresnel prisms
Key Publications
- Milne E, Griffiths H, Buckley D, Scope A. Vision in children and adolescents with autistic spectrum disorder: Evidence for reduced convergence. J Autism Dev Disord. 2009 Jul; 39(7): 965-75.
- Griffiths HJ, Burke JP. Temporary incyclotorsion following surgical correction of bilateral superior oblique palsy. J American Association Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. 2007; 11: 65-67.
- Griffiths HJ, Whittle J. Buckley D. The effect of binocular and monocular distractors on saccades in participants with normal binocular single vision. Vision Research. 2006; 46:72-81.