Dr Hetal Buckhurst

Biography

Qualifications

Hetal Buckhurst is an Associate Professor in Optometry at the University of Plymouth (UoP). Hetal is a registered optometrist with the General Optical Council (GOC) and has a PhD in myopia and ocular rigidity. In July 2011, Hetal was instrumental in establishing the Optometry program at the University of Plymouth and as part of the inaugural team of academics, she played a pivotal role in shaping the curriculum. Her work to enhance the student experience and cultivating the next generation of optometrists earned her the recognition of becoming a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). As the Co-Chair of the Myopia Consortium UK, she brings together esteemed academics from across the United Kingdom, fostering collaborative research and driving the relationship between academia and clinical practice. Leadership roles at Plymouth include Chair of the Eye and Vision Research Group and Senior Tutor for the School of Health Professionals. In terms of quality assurance and assessment, she currently serves as an external examiner for taught undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes in University of Central Lancashire and City, University of London.

Professional membership

General Optical Council (GOC) College of Optometrists (MCOptom) Association of Optometrists (AOP) Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)

Roles on external bodies

Co-Chair of the Myopia Consortium UK

Expert member of the College of Optometrist Myopia Management guidance board UK

Member of the International Myopia Institute Committee

Independent advisor for the Childhood Atropine for Myopia Progression (CHAMP) study

Teaching

Teaching interests

Module lead:

OPT405 Geometric and Physical Optics 2022-current

OPT406 Visual Optics 2022-current

OPT402 Clinical Optometry Skills 2011 - 2022

OPT101 Evidence-Based Practice 2013 - 2015

OPT107 Visual Perception 2011-2013

OPT201 Clinical Skills 2 2012-2013

OPT207 Project Studies 1 2013-2018

OPT301 Project Studies 2 2013-2015

Module Teacher:

OPT103 Ocular Anatomy 2011-2012

OPT601 General Optometric Practice 2013-present

Set up and lead the myopia control clinics at the Centre for Eyecare Excellence since 2018

https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/schools/school-of-health-professions/centre-for-eyecare-excellence/myopia-control-clinic

Practice placement team member: 2011-2017

Admissions team member: 2019-present

Stage tutor:

First year stage tutor 2011-2013

Second year stage tutor 2013-2014, 2018-2020

Final year stage tutor 2014-2016

School of Health Professions Senior Tutor 2019-present.

Staff serving as external examiners

University of Central Lancashire (2019-present)

City, University of London (2023- present)

Research

Research interests

Biomechanics of the anterior segment of the eye
Myopia
Ophthalmic instrumentation

Research degrees awarded to supervised students

PhD Supervision

2012 - 2015 Dr Catriona Hamer PhD (Co-supervisor) Thesis title: Analysis and correction of corneal astigmatism in modern pseudophakia

2013 - 2017 Dr Daniela Oehring PhD (Director of Studies) Thesis title: Ocular biomechanics of the anterior segment

2013 - 2017 Dr Nicola Szostek PhD (Co-supervisor) Thesis title: Assessment of ocular accommodation in humans

2014 - 2018 Dr Afzam Shah PhD (Director of Studies) Thesis: An investigation of computer vision syndrome with smart devices

2014 - 2020 Elizabeth Law PhD(Co-supervisor) Thesis: Clinical Outcomes Post-implantation of mutlifocal and toric intraocular lenses

2022 - 2023 Anna Zolubak PhD (Director of Studies) Thesis: Shape Discrimination in central and peripheral vision and its potential for vision screening

2020 - Present Sherrie Choy PhD (Co-supervisor)

2022 - Present Karolina Jablonka (Co-supervisor)

2023 - Present Annabelle Gorham PhD (Director of Studies)

Grants & contracts

Investigators	Title	Start date	Sponsor	Funding amount
Dr H Buckhurst	Biomechanics of the para-central cornea in orthokeratology	October 2014	College of Optometrists	£28,079
Dr H Buckhurst	Regional variation in the biomechanical properties of the anterior surface of the eye	April 2014	Plymouth University	£60,000
Dr P Buckhurst Dr H Buckhurst	Anterior eye imaging: Assessment of a microincision IOL and aspheric toric IOL	October 2014	Bausch and Lomb	£93,600
Dr P Buckhurst Dr H Buckhurst	A randomised intra-patient comparison of closed loop and plate haptic toric, aspheric, aberration neutral, hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lenses in patients with bilateral astigmatism	February 2015	Rayner	£9,450
Dr P Buckhurst Dr H Buckhurst Dr P Hewson Dr M Craven	Clinical Assessment of the WIOL-CF	May 2015	Medicem	£14,000
Dr P Buckhurst Dr H Buckhurst Dr P Hewson	Assessment of the Harmoni Modular IOL	August 2015	Clarvista Medical	£96,312
Dr P Buckhurst Dr H Buckhurst	Anterior eye imaging: Assessment of an aspheric toric IOL	October 2015	Bausch and Lomb	£98,600
Dr P Buckhurst Dr H Buckhurst Dr P Hewson Dr M Craven	Clincal assessment of a modular aspheric IOL	September 2015	Clarvista Medical	£96,312
Dr P Buckhurst Dr H Buckhurst	Evaluation of a micro-incision IOL	November 2017	Bausch and Lomb	£15,000
Dr P Buckhurst Dr H Buckhurst	Randomised clinical investigatorion on the Bi-flex M intraocular lens	November 2017	Medicontur	£20,000

Publications

Key publications

Key publications are highlighted

Journals

Articles

Buckhurst H, Gilmartin B, Cubbidge R & Logan NS (2023) 'Conformation of the anterior segment in human myopia' Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics , DOI Open access

Law EM, Buckhurst HD, Aggarwal RK, El-Kasaby H, Marsden J, Shum GL & Buckhurst PJ (2022) 'Optimising curve fitting techniques to look for standardisation of the analysis of defocus curves derived from multifocal intraocular lenses' Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics , DOI Open access

Law EM, Aggarwal RK, Buckhurst H, Kasaby HE, Marsden J, Shum G & Buckhust PJ (2021) 'One-year post-operative comparison of visual function and patient satisfaction with trifocal and extended depth of focus intraocular lenses' European Journal of Ophthalmology 32, (5) 2967-2974 , DOI Open access

Law EM, Aggarwal RK, Buckhurst H, Kasaby HE, Marsden J, Shum G & Buckhust PJ (2021) 'Predicting the Postoperative Addition Power of a Multifocal Intraocular Lens at the Spectacle Plane' Journal of Refractive Surgery 37, (5) 318-323 , DOI Open access

Oehring D, Jenkins D, Buckhurst PJ & Buckhurst H (2021) 'Experimental Assessment of the Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Non-Contact Tonometer Airflows' Applied Sciences 11, (6) 2499-2499 , DOI Open access

Buckhurst HD, Gilmartin B, Lam A, Cubbidge RP & Logan NS (2020) 'In vivo measures of anterior scleral resistance in humans with rebound tonometry' Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics 40, (4) 472-481 , DOI Open access

Law E, Aggarwal R, Buckhurst H, Kasaby H, Marsden J, Shum G & Buckhurst P (2020) 'Visual Function and Subjective Perception of Vision following bilateral implantation of monofocal and multifocal intraocular lenses: A Randomised Controlled Trial' Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery 46, (7) 1020-1020 , DOI Open access

Wolffsohn JS, Kollbaum PS, Berntsen DA, Atchison DA, Benavente A, Bradley A, Buckhurst H, Collins M, Fujikado T & Hiraoka T (2019) 'IMI - Clinical Myopia Control Trials and Instrumentation Report' Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 60, (3) M132-M160 Author Site , DOI Open access

Szostek N, Buckhurst H, Purslow C, Drew T, Collinson A & Buckhurst PJ (2018) 'Validation of Novel Metrics from the Accommodative Dynamic Profile' Vision 2, (3) 0-0 , DOI Open access

Szostek NL, Buckhurst H, Buckhurst P, Purslow C & Collinson A (2016) 'An introduction to nutrition for an optometrist' Optometry in Practice 17, (3) Open access

Hamer CA, Buckhurst H, Purslow C, Shum GL, Habib NE & Buckhurst PJ (2016) 'Comparison of reliability and repeatability of corneal curvature assessment with six keratometers' Clinical and Experimental Optometry 99, (6) 583-589 , DOI Open access

Buckhurst PJ, Naroo SA, Davies LN, Shah S, Buckhurst H, Kingsnorth A, Drew T & Wolffsohn JS (2015) 'Tablet App halometer for the assessment of dysphotopsia' Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery 41, (11) 2424-2429 , DOI Open access

Buckhurst HD, Gilmartin B, Cubbidge RP & Logan NS (2015) 'Measurement of Scleral Thickness in Humans Using Anterior Segment Optical Coherent Tomography' PLOS ONE 10, (7) 0-0 , DOI Open access

Buckhurst H, Gilmartin B, Cubbidge RP, Nagra M & Logan NS (2013) 'Ocular biometric correlates of ciliary muscle thickness in human myopia' Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics 33, (Mar 4.) 294-304 , DOI

Patel H, Gilmartin B, Cubbidge RP & Logan NS (2011) 'In vivo measurement of regional variation in anterior scleral resistance to Schiotz indentation' Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics 31, (5) 437-443 , DOI

Patel H, Gilmartin B, Cubbidge RP & Logan NS (2011) 'In vivo measurement of regional variation in anterior scleral resistance to Schiotz indentation' Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 31, (5) 437-443 Author Site , DOI

Conference Papers

Hamer C, Shum G, Bunn L, Marsden J, Buckhurst H, Purslow C, Habib N & Buckhurst PJ (2016) 'The Effect of Loss of Contrast and Distortion on Vision and Mobility Tasks'

Buckhurst PJ, Hamer C, Buckhurst H, Purslow C & Habib N (2016) 'Validity of prediction models used to determine post-operative corneal shape following cataract surgery'

Oehring D, Purslow C, Buckhurst PJ & Buckhurst H (2015) 'Investigating the association between ocular biometry and corneal biomechanics in healthy human' ARVO (Denver)

Hamer C, Habib N, Buckhurst H, Purslow C & Buckhurst PJ (2015) 'Do toric IOL calculators accurately predict the shift in orientation of the steepest corneal meridian following cataract surgery?'

Szostek N, Buckhurst H, Purslow C, Collinson A & Buckhurst PJ (2015) 'Relationship between the subjective measurement of accommodative facility and the objective assessment of the dynamic accommodative response'

Buckhurst PJ, Hamer C, Buckhurst H, Purslow C & Habib N (2015) 'The relationship between corneal astigmatism and refractive astigmatic error in pseudophkic eyes'

Buckhurst P, Buckhurst H & Hamer C (2013) 'Assessment of ciliary muscle morphology using a new Fourier domain swept source anterior chamber optical coherence tomographer'

Buckhurst H, Gilmartin B, Cubbidge R, Nagra M & Logan N (2013) 'The relationship between anterior segment biometry and corneal biomechanics in myopia'

Presentations and posters

Oehring D, Habib N, Buckhurst P & Buckhurst H Oehring D, Habib N, Buckhurst P & Buckhurst H 'In-vivo regional variation of biomechanical properties in ectatic eyes' Author Site , DOI

Oehring D, Purslow C, Buckhurst PJ & Buckhurst HD Oehring D, Purslow C, Buckhurst PJ & Buckhurst HD 'Characterising biomechanical properties of healthy human corneas with the Ocular Response Analyser and CorvisST' Author Site

Szostek N, Buckhurst HD, Collinson A, Purslow C & Buckhurst PJ Szostek N, Buckhurst HD, Collinson A, Purslow C & Buckhurst PJ 'In vivo assessment of ciliary muscle morphology using swept source optical coherence tomography' Author Site

Buckhurst PJ, Rahim MASBA, Purslow C & Buckhurst HD Buckhurst PJ, Rahim MASBA, Purslow C & Buckhurst HD 'Investigating the influence of using smart devices on the ocular accommodative response' Author Site

Law E, Buckhurst HD, Aggarwal R, Kasaby H & Buckhurst PJ Law E, Buckhurst HD, Aggarwal R, Kasaby H & Buckhurst PJ 'Assessing and predicting the effective addition power of Multifocal intraocular lens' Author Site

Oehring D, Purslow C, Buckhurst P & Buckhurst H Oehring D, Purslow C, Buckhurst P & Buckhurst H 'Biometric and dynamic predictors of ORA measures of corneal biomechanics' Author Site

Oehring D, Purslow C, Buckhurst P & Buckhurst H Oehring D, Purslow C, Buckhurst P & Buckhurst H 'Measuring and Interpreting the biomechanical Properties of the Cornea'

Personal

Other academic activities

Journal manuscript reviewer for Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Clinical and Experimental Optometry, Clinical Ophthalmology and Contact Lens and Anterior Eye.

Profiles

Associate Professor in Optometry

School of Health Professions (Faculty of Health)