Nasim Shafi

Functional assessment in advanced glaucoma

In January 2023, I have joined the department of ophthalmology at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) to begin my journey towards a PhD under the supervision of Prof. Nomdo M. Jansonius. For my secondment, I will be joining Prof. Michael Hoffmann’s Visual Processing Lab for the opportunity to continue my research under his supervision. Throughout this PhD programme, I am also continuously supervised and guided by Dr. Konstantinos Pappelis.
Click here to read more about my project!

Personal Background and Interest

I have recently graduated from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences as an MD, although my personal ambition is to become an established academic researcher in the long-term future. The primary organ that has captivated my interest is the brain, and specifically the visual system. I am also considering specializing in either Neurology or Ophthalmology farther down my path, however my first and foremost aspiration is to grow as a researcher. The current PhD programme provides a major stepping stone towards this career objective.

Aim of the project

The current gold standard method for assessing the visual field and disease progression in glaucoma patients, known as standard automated perimetry (SAP), has limitations in advanced stages of glaucoma. Visual fields classified as blind by SAP have varying degrees of residual function, ranging from little to no light perception to useful vision for daily tasks. The aim of this project is to enable quantification of visual function in those reported blind by standard automated perimetry.

Current activities/Accomplishments

For the better understanding of the visual field in specifically advanced glaucoma patients, I am currently in the process of using the available datasets at the UMCG to better understand the peripheral field of vision in advanced glaucoma.