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Professor B. Gilmartin PhD, BSc, FCOptom, FAAO

Professor of Optometry
School of Life and Health Sciences
Aston University
Birmingham B4 7ET
UK

email: b.gilmartin@aston.ac.uk
telephone: +44 (0) 121 204 3881
fax: +44 (0) 121 204 4048

Lecturer on the Undergraduate Optometry Programme

Member of the Ophthalmic Research Group

Image of Professor Bernard Gilmartin

Career history

  • 1968 Honours degree in Optometry (first) City University
  • 1969 Fellowship, College of Optometrists (CoO), (elected Life Fellow Nov. 2000)
  • 1969 General Optical Council (GOC) registration
  • 1974 PhD (City)
  • 1974 Aston University: Lecturer
  • 1988 Aston University: Senior Lecturer
  • 1995 Aston University: Reader
  • 1998 Aston University: Personal Chair in Optometry
  • 2000 Life Fellow College of Optometrists
  • 2011 Retired from Aston University August 31st 
  • 2011  continued at Aston University on part-time basis(October 3rd -).

Teaching responsibilities 

Second Year:

  • Clinical Optometry Teaching Laboratory 

Final Year:

  • Ophthalmic Drugs OP3OD1 (Module Leader)

Professional Doctorate:

  • Associate Module Leader for Module OP4MY1 ‘Myopia’ with Dr Nicola Logan

Professional and academic experience in research

Publications and Grants

  • One hundred and thirty research papers (see selection below), four book Chapters and two edited books principally in the areas of near vision function, myopia development, mechanisms of accommodation and ocular biometry. Over 120 Abstracts published at Conferences in Europe, The Far East, USA, Australasia and Canada.
  • Principal grant awarding bodies: College of Optometrists; Department of Transport; DERA; BAe; Wellcome Trust (Travel); Royal Society & Leverhulme Trust (Overseas Visiting Fellowships); West Midlands LORS; Hoya Corporation; Central LOC; Johnson & Johnson, BUPA.

International Standing

  • Editor of the academic journal of the College of Optometrists, Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics 1986-2000. Associate Editor (February 2010-). Topical Editor (Myopia) Optometry and Vision Science (February 2011-). International Editorial Board Journal of Optometry (January 2008-).
  • Reviewer for all the major vision research journals and assessor for projects submitted to Canadian (NSERC), Australian (ARC), New Zealand (AMRC) and Hong Kong funding bodies.
  • Research collaboration with laboratories in USA, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, Germany and Russia.
  • Exchange Fellowships with Japan and Russia (Royal Society) and Australia (Queensland University).
  • Elected Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry in 1990.
  • Member of Optometric Advisory Boards: Sweden (The Karolinska Institute) and The Netherlands. International Editorial Board Member for Jounal of Optometry.
  • Keynote speaker on Myopia: European Academy of Optometry and Optics (EAOO), Copenhagen, May 2010

National Standing

  • Assessor for project grant proposals to UK funding bodies: Royal Society, London; MRC; EPSRC; BBSRC; Welsh Office; Wellcome Trust; Leverhulme Trust; Nuffield Foundation; Mencap; National Lottery. 
  • Special Invited Lectures: Marton lecture (1987); College Charter Lecture (1998); Gerald Dunn Memorial Lecture (2001); David Pickwell Memorial Lecture (2011). 
  • Research Committee, Institute of Optometry, London. Editorial Board member Optician 1999-. Co-opted member of the College of Optometrist’s Board of Trustees (May 2010-March 2011). Chair of College of Optometrist’s Research Committee (March 2010- March 2011), co-opted member March 2012 -.
  • External examiner (4 year appointments) for BSc Degree in Optometry at Universities of Manchester, Bradford, Glasgow, City and Plymouth (Oct 2011-July 2014).
  • Dedicated Festschrift issue (September 2011) of Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics in recognition of retirement in August 2011.
  • College of Optometrists Research Excellence Awards. A named Award was designated in August 2011: The Bernard Gilmartin OPO Award; an annual Award for the best research paper published in Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics during the previous 5 years. 

External Appointments

  • External examiner for 26 PhD theses awarded by Universities of Auckland, Cardiff, Birmingham, Bradford, City, Glasgow, Hong Kong, PolyU, Queensland, Sydney, UMIST.
  • Specialist assessor (teaching) for HEFC(W) '95; GOC Panel of Visitors (educationalist category and Chair) '97-to date; QAA Panel Member for Benchmarking Optometry, 2001; RAE Panel, Special Advisor (Optometry) 2001. Member of C12 RAE 2008 Sub-Panel Allied Health Professions and Studies.
  • Special advisor to School of Optometry, Hong Kong Polytechnic University (2009-12) and Member of validation Panel for MSc Optometry 2011.

Aston University Appointments

  • Awarded the Chancellor’s Medal for ‘outstanding and sustained contributions to Aston University’ in July 2009.
  • Convener of the Ophthalmic Research Group (ORG) - June 1984-April 2010. Currently the ORG membership includes 13 HEFC-funded members of Staff, 3 postdoctoral and 10 PhD students. (see also http://www1.aston.ac.uk/lhs/research/health/org/)

  • Research (internal) supervisor and examiner for 22 PhD degrees.

  • School of Life and Health Sciences (LHS) appointments: Director of Research for School (2001-2005); Senate professorial representative; Chairman of Research Committee (2001-2005); member of School Management Committee and Board (2001-2005).

Refereed Journal Articles 2001 Onwards

  1. Mallen, E.A.H., Wolffsohn J. S., Gilmartin, B. and Tsujimura, S. (2001). Clinical evaluation of the Shin-Nippon SRW 5000 autorefractor in adults. Ophthal. Physiol. Opt., 21, 101-107.
  2. Wolffsohn J. S., Gilmartin, B., Mallen, E.A.H. and Tsujimura, S. (2001). Continuous recording of accommodation and pupil size using the Shin-Nippon SRW 5000 autorefractor. Ophthal. Physiol. Opt., 21, 108-113.
  3. Tsujimura, S.I., Wolffsohn, J.S. and Gilmartin, B. (2001) A linear chromatic mechanism drives the pupillary response. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 268, 2203-2209.
  4. Santodomingo-Rubido, J., Mallen, E.A.H., Gilmartin, B. and Wolffsohn J. S. (2002) A new non-contact device for ocular biometry. Brit J Ophthalmol. 86, 458-462.
  5. Armstrong R. A., Eperjesi, F. and Gilmartin, B. (2002). The application of analysis of variance (ANOVA) to different experimental designs in optometry. Ophthal. Physiol. Opt., 22, 248-256.
  6. Baker, F.J. and Gilmartin, B (2002) The effect of incipient presbyopia on the correspondence between accommodation and vergence. Graefe’s Arch. Clin. Exp. Ophthalmol. 240 288-294
  7. Wolffsohn,JS Hunt,OA Gilmartin,B (2002) Continuous measurement of accommodation in human factor applications. Ophthal. Physiol. Opt 22, 380-384
  8. Gilmartin,B Mallen,EAH Wolffsohn,JS (2002) Sympathetic control of accommodation: evidence for inter-subject variation. Ophthal. Physiol. Opt. 22, 366-371
  9. Winn, B., Culhane, H.M., Gilmartin,B. and Strang, N.C. (2002) Effect of beta adrenoceptor antagonists on autonomic control of ciliary smooth muscle. Ophthal. Physiol. Opt.22, 359-365
  10. Morgan, A.J., Harper, J., Hosking, H.L. and Gilmartin, B. (2002) The effect of corneal thickness and corneal curvature on pneumatonometer measurements. Curr. Eye Res. 25, 107-112.
  11. Davies, L.N., Mallen, E.A.H., Wolffsohn, J.S. and Gilmartin, B (2003) Clinical evaluation of the Shin-Nippon NVision-K 5001/Grand Seiko WR 5100K autorefractor. Optom Vis. Sci.80, 320-324.
  12. Wolffsohn, J.S., Gilmartin, B., Li, R W-H., Edwards, M.H., Chat, S W-S., Lew J K-F. and Yu B S-Y (2003) Near work-induced transient myopia in pre-Adolescent Hong Kong Chinese. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 44, 2284-2289.
  13. Tsujimura, S. Wolffsohn, JS Gilmartin,B. (2003) Pupil responses associated with coloured afterimages are mediated by the magno-cellular pathway. Vision Research. 43, 1423-1432.
  14. Baker, F.J. and Gilmartin, B. (2003) Prism adaptation in incipient presbyopia Ophthal. Physiol. Opt., 23, 507-511.
  15. Santodomingo-Rubido, J., Gilmartin, B. and Wolffsohn J. S. (2003) Drug-induced bilateral transient myopia with the sulphonamide sulfasalazine Ophthal. Physiol. Opt.,23, 567-570.
  16. Hunt O. A., Wolffsohn J. S., and Gilmartin, B. (2003) Evaluation of the measurement of refractive error by the PowerRefractor a remote, continuous and binocular measurement system of oculomotor function. Brit J Ophthalmol 87, 1504-1508.
  17. Wolffsohn J. S., Gilmartin, B., Thomas, R. and Mallen, E.A.H. (2003) Refractive error, cognitive demand and nearwork-induced transient myopia. Curr. Eye Res. 27, 363-370.
  18. Gilmartin B (2004) Myopia: pathways to therapy. Optom. Vis. Sci. 81 1-3.
  19. Logan, N.S., Gilmartin, B., Marr J.E., Stevenson, M.R. and Ainsworth, J.R.(2004) Community-based study of the association of high myopia in children with ocular and systemic disease Optom. Vis. Sci.81, 11-13.
  20. Wolffsohn, JS O’Donnell C, Charman, WN Gilmartin B (2004) Simultaneous continuous recording of accommodation and pupil size using the modified Shin-Nippon SRW-5000 autorefractor. Ophthal. Physiol. Opt 24, 142-147.
  21. Logan, N.S., Gilmartin, B. Wildsoet, C.F. and Dunne, M.C.M. (2004) Posterior retinal contour in adult human anisomyopia. Invest. Ophthal. Vis. Sci. 45, 2152-2162.
  22. Gilmartin B (2004) Myopia: precedents for research in the 21st Century (2004) Clin Expt Ophthalmol 32, 305-324.
  23. Pointer, J.S. and Gilmartin, B. (2004) Clinical characteristics of unilateral myopic anisometropia in a juvenile optometric practice population Ophthal. Physiol. Opt 24 458-463.
  24. Logan, N.S., and Gilmartin, B. (2004) School vision screening, ages 5 to 16 years: the evidence-base for content, provision and efficacy Ophthal. Physiol. Opt 24, 481-492.
  25. Mallen, E.A.H., Gilmartin, B., Wolffsohn, J.S. (2005) Sympathetic innervation of ciliary muscle, refractive error and oculomotor function in young adults. Vision Res. 45 1641-1651.
  26. Armstrong R. A., Eperjesi, F. and Gilmartin, B. (2005) The application of correlation and regression to different experimental designs in optometry. Clin Exp Optom. 88, 81-88
  27. Logan, N.S., Davies, L.N., Mallen, E.A.H. and Gilmartin, B. (2005) Ametropia and ocular biometry in a UK University student population. Optom. Vis. Sci 82, 261-266.
  28. Davies, L. N., Wolffsohn, J. S. and Gilmartin, B. (2005) The influence of cognition on ocular accommodation and cardiovascular function in emmetropes and late-onset myopes. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 46, 1791-1796.
  29. Santodomingo-Rubido, J, Gilmartin, B and Wolffsohn, JS (2005) Refractive and biometric changes with silicone hydrogel contact lenses. Optom. Vis. Sci 82, 481-489.
  30. Logan, N. S. and Gilmartin, B. (2005) Myopia: development and control in children. Optometry in Practice. 6, 149-162.
  31. Okada, Y., Ukai, K., Wolffsohn, J.S., Gilmartin, B., Iijima, A. & Bando, T. (2006) Target spatial frequency determines the response to conflicting defocus- and convergence-driven accommodative stimuli. Vision Res. 46, 475-484.
  32. Santodomingo-Rubido, J, and Wolffsohn, JS Gilmartin, B. (2006). Changes in ocular physiology, tear film characteristics and symptomatology with 18 months silicone hydrogel contact lens wear Optom. Vis. Sci 83, 73-81
  33. Wolffsohn,JS Hunt,OA Naroo,SA Gilmartin,B Shah,S Cunliffe,IA Benson,MT, Mantry,S. (2006) Objective accommodative amplitude and dynamics with the 1CU 'accommodative' intraocular lens. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 47, 1230-5
  34. Singh, K.D., Logan, N.S. & Gilmartin, B.(2006) Three-dimensional modelling of the human eye based on magnetic resonance imaging. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 47, 2272-2279
  35. Wolffsohn, JS Ukai, K and Gilmartin, B. (2006) Dynamic measurement of accommodation and pupil responses using the portable Grand Seiko FR-5000 autorefractor Optom. Vis. Sci. 83, 306-310
  36. Tsujimura, S.I., Wolffsohn, J.S. Gilmartin, B. (2006) Pupil response to colour signals in cone contrast space Current Eye Research 31, 401-408
  37. Cervino A, Hosking SL, Rai GK, Naroo SA, Gilmartin B. (2006). Wavefront analysers induce instrument myopia. J. Refract Surg. 22, 795-803.
  38. Santodomingo-Rubido, J, and Wolffsohn, JS Gilmartin, B. (2006) Comparison between graticule and image capture assessment of lower tear film meniscus height. Contact Lens and Anterior Eye 29, 169-173
  39. Santodomingo-Rubido, J, Wolffsohn, JS, Gilmartin, B. (2007) Adverse events over 18 months of silicone hydrogel contact lens wear. Eye and Contact Lens 33, 288-292.
  40. Torri M, Okada Y, Ukai K, Wolffsohn JS, Gilmartin B. (2008) Dynamic measurement of accommodation while viewing stereoscopic images. J Mod Optics 55, 557-567.
  41. Cox AR, Gilmartin B. (2006) Drug-induced ophthalmic adverse reactions Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin 241, 919-922.
  42. Santodomingo-Rubido J, Wolffsohn JS, Gilmartin B. (2008) Conjunctival epithelial flaps with 18 months silicone hydrogel contact lens wear. Eye and Contact Lens 34, 35-38.
  43. Valsudevan B, Ciuffreda KJ, Gilmartin B. (2009) Sympathetic inhibition of accommodation following sustained nearwork in myopes and emmetropes.  Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 50, 114-120.
  44. Davies LN, Wolffsohn JS, Gilmartin B. (2009) Autonomic correlates of ocular accommodation and cardiovascular function Ophthal. Physiol. Opt 29, 427-435.
  45. Fukushima, T., Torii, M., Ukai, K., Wolffsohn, J. S., & Gilmartin, B. (2009). The relationship between CA/C ratio and individual differences in dynamic accommodative responses while viewing stereoscopic images. Journal of Vision, 9(13):21, 1-13, http://journalofvision.org/9/13/21/, doi:10.1167/9.13.21.
  46. Santodomingo-Rubido J,  César Villa-Collar, Gilmartin B, Gutiérrez-Ortega R. (2009). Myopia Control with Orthokeratology contact lenses in Spain (MCOS): study design and general baseline characteristics J Optometry  2:215-222.
  47. O'Donoghue L, Saunders KJ,  McClelland JF,  Logan NS,  Rudnicka AR, Gilmartin  B, and Owen CG (2010). Sampling and measurement methods for a study of childhood refractive error in a United Kingdom population. Brit J Ophthalmol 94(9) 1150-1154.
  48. Armstrong R.A., Davies L.N, Dunne MCM and Gilmartin B  (2011) Statistical guidelines for clinical studies in human vision  Ophthal Physiol Opt  31, 123-136.
  49. Pointer  J.S. and Gilmartin  B.(2011) Patterns of refractive change in myopic subjects during the incipient phase of presbyopia: a preliminary studyOphthal Physiol Opt   31: 550–558.
  50. Patel, H. Gilmartin B. Cubbidge R. and LoganN.S. (2011)  In vivo measurement of regional variation in anterior scleral resistance to Schiotz indentation. Ophthal Physiol Opt  31: 437–443.
  51. Logan NS and Gilmartin B et al (2011) Childhood ethnic differences in ametropia and ocular biometry: the Aston Eye Study. Ophthal Physiol Opt  31: 550–558.

Patents

  • International Patent Application number PCT/GB2005/004577: Method and Apparatus for Imaging the Eye. Professor KD Singh, Professor B Gilmartin, Dr NS Logan.
  • UK patent application (August/January 2010; July 2011) GB1012040.0: Prof Stephen Anderson and Professor Bernard Gilmartin  Apparatus and method for affecting the progression of eye refractive error. 

Books and Book Chapters

  • Wolffsohn, JS Gilmartin, B Hunt,OA and Edgar,GK Using photoretinoscopy to measure the binocular oculomotor response to monocular virtual image displays. Vision in Vehicles - IX. 2002, North-Holland, Gale,AG (ed)
  • Harvey W and Gilmartin (Eds) (2004) Paediatric Optometry. Butterworth Heinemann Oxford
  • Logan, N.S. and Gilmartin, B. Contact lens correction and myopia progression. In: Contact Lenses  (Phillips AJ & Speedwell L, editors), Butterworth Heinemann: Oxford, 2006; pp. 591-600.
  • Gilmartin B. Ocular adverse reactions to systemic medication In: Optometry: Science, Techniques and Clinical Management (Rosenfield M, Logan NS, editors), 2nd Edition, Butterworth Heinemann: Oxford, 2009; pp. 111-126.

European Commission FP6 Proposal

ARVO abstracts (not yet published as articles)

2008

  • Gilmartin B, Logan NS, Singh KD In vivo Comparison of Anterior and Posterior Ocular Volume in Human Ametropia Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 49:3582 Suppl. 2008.

2009

  • Nagra M, Gilmartin B,  Logan NS,  Furlong P, Wilkinson E, Singh K. Conformation of Sagittal and Axial Meridians in Human Myopia. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 50:3941 Suppl. 2009.

2011

  • Gilmartin, B., Nagra, M., Logan, N.S and Patel, H.D. Regional Variation in Ocular Dimensions in Human Myopia. IOVS 2011, 51, ARVO E-Abstract 6315.

  • Patel, H.D., Gilmartin, B., Cubbidge, R.P. and Logan, N.S. In vivo Ballastic Measurement of Anterior Scleral Resistance in Humans. IOVS  2011, 51, ARVO E-Abstract 6312.

Current and prospective research areas (and collaborations)

  • Eye growth in human myopia: structural (e.g. MRI) electrophysiological (e.g. mfERG) and psychophysical correlates. Collaboration: Professor Stephen Anderson (Aston); Dr Manbir Nagra (Aston); Prof K Singh, (CUBRIC, Cardiff University).
  • Mapping of mid- and far-peripheral image optical shells to topography of ocular stretch in myopia. The role of sympathetic innervation of ciliary smooth muscle in myopia. Collaboration: Dr E Mallen, Bradford University. 
  • Epidemiology of myopia in the UK child population. Collaboration: Dr Nicola Logan (PI, Aston). See details of The Aston Eye Study at  http://www1.aston.ac.uk/lhs/staff/az-index/loganns--0/#P45_2590 ; Drs Alicia Rudnicka and Chris Owen, St George's, London University.  
  • The effect of ametropia on the relationship between IOP and sustained accommodation. Collaboration: Dr Gurjeet Rai. 
  • Nutrition and myopia. Collaboration: Dr Hannah Bartlett (PI, Aston)
  • Structural correlates of incipient myopia Collaboration: Dr Leon Davies (PI, Aston)
  • Pupil responses and visual processing. Collaboration: Dr S-I Tsujimura, Kagoshima University Japan.
  • Natural and artificial light and of the onset and development of myopia. Collaboration: Dr E Mallen, Bradford University. 
  • Adrenergic and cholinergic control systems in myopic growth. Collaboration: Dr E Mallen, Bradford University; Professor K Ciuffreda, SUNY USA; Dr Bala Valsudevan, University of Arizona, USA.
  • Corneal reshaping (OrthoK) and myopia progession in children: the Myopia Control with Orthokeratology contact lenses in Spain (MCOS) study. Collaboration: Dr J Santodomingo-Rubido, Menicon Madrid, Spain.  
  • Ocular volume in myopia.Collaboration: Dr S Benavente, SUNY USA  
  • Scleral biomechanics in myopia. Dr N Logan (Aston), Dr R Cubbidge (Aston); Dr Hetal Patel (University of Plymouth); Dr Inma Bueno-Gimenez (University of Valencia).