Professor David Henson PhD, FBCO

• Member of Research Group, 'Eye & Vision Sciences', Faculty of Life Sciences,
• Director MSc course 'Investigative Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences',
• Secretary International Perimetric Society,
• Life Fellow College of Optometrists,

Main areas of research interest are visual function in the diseased eye, ocular imaging and instrumentation. Emphasis is on developing better ways of both detecting and monitoring ocular disease and in the translation of research findings to the clinic. Previous work has involved the development of visual field instruments which incorporated optimised glaucoma screening test strategies.


1. A longitudinal study of the effectiveness of new imaging technology in detecting and monitoring of glaucoma
2. An evaluation of multifocal visually evoked potentials in glaucoma.
3. A multicentre drug trial.
4. An investigation of the influence of alertness upon variability in the visual field.
5. Risk factors for severe visual field loss from glaucoma.
6. Compliance with glaucoma therapy.

Research work directed towards defining and modeling of patient response characteristics has led to new ways of evaluating and developing perimetric test strategies designed to reduce variability and improve the monitoring of conditions such as glaucoma. This is an ongoing area of research with new projects aimed at defining the influence of patient factors on test-retest variability.

Several research projects have investigated the delivery of glaucoma services within the NHS. These projects have led to a number new initiatives designed to improve service delivery. One of these is the Glaucoma Referral Refinement Scheme that has been operating in Manchester for a number of years. Another is the setting up of an Optometric Led Glaucoma Assessment (OLGA) clinic at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital.

David Henson is a Professor of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences in the School of Medicine.

David graduated from City University in 1970 with a BSc in Ophthalmic Optics and then qualified as an Optometrist in 1971. He went on to practice Optometry in North London before taking an MSc in Methods of Ophthalmic Investigation at Aston University in 1972. Upon garaduation he went to Indiana University as a Teaching Assistant where he obtained a PhD in Physiological Optics in 1976.

David returned to the UK in 1976 taking up a lectureship at Cardiff University. He later moved to Manchester University in 1996 and was awarded his chair in 2002.

In 2004 David was made a Life Fellow of the College of Optometrists and he has been a long time member of the International Perimetric Society where he currently holds the position of Hon Sec.

David has published over 100 papers within the scientific literature along with two complete texts, Optometric Instrumentation (Butterworth Heinmann) and Visual Fields (Oxford University Press). He has also contributed chapters to a further 9 texts including acting as editor to the proceedings of the International Perimetric Society meeting in 2004.

He has supervised 15 PhD students and an even larger number of MSc students, many of which have been taking the Investigative Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences course in Manchester. Over the years he has obtained over 2 milliion pounds of external grant income from a wide range of sources including the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme, the Wellcome Trust, the EPSRC, the College of Optometrists and vision charities such as the International Glaucoma Association, the Guide Dogs for the Blind and the BUPA Foundation. He has also recieved support from industry including Pfizer Global Pharmaceuticals and Keeler Instruments.

David is on the Editorial Board of Acta Ophthalmologica and Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics.

Collaborators

• Paul H Artes
  
• Trish Gray
• Dr Vincent Nourrit
• Ms Fiona Spencer
• Ms Cecilia Fenerty
• Mr Paulo Stanga