Recent Research By Global Impact Fellows
There are relatively few published studies about eye care in developing countries, and Unite For Sight mentors its Global Impact Fellows to design and implement research studies that contribute to knowledge about global health delivery. Unite For Sight and its partner eye clinics compile research study questions for Global Impact Fellows to pursue. In collaboration with Unite For Sight and the partner eye clinic, the Global Impact Fellow works with a university mentor to design the research study. Global Impact Fellows are required to receive Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval from their university prior to implementing their study. They are also required to complete Unite For Sight's Certificate in Global Health Research, which prepares researchers for the critical ethical and methodological issues involved with research in the developing world.
Research Studies Conducted in India
2011
- "Patient Barriers to Cataract Surgery and the Effect of Visual Aids on Cataract Surgery Uptake in Ghana, Honduras, and India," Alim Ramji, Undergraduate, University of Oklahoma [Presentation: Oral Presentation in "Student Leaders in Global Health" session at Unite For Sight Global Health & Innovation Conference 2012 (forthcoming)]
- "Patient Barriers to Cataract Surgery and the Effect of Visual Aids on Cataract Surgery Uptake," Kavya Rao, Undergraduate, University of California at San Diego
- "Barriers to Cataract Surgery For Clinic Patients in Orissa, India," Christina Kwong, Student, Lorry I Lokey Graduate School of Business, Mills College
2010
- "Does Seeing Mean Believing? The Effects of Pictograms in Educating a Rural South Indian Population on the Use of Postoperative Cataract Medication," Puneet Singh Braich, Medical Student, Ross University School of Medicine; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Chennai, India [Publication: Can J Ophthalmol. 2011 Jun;46(3):276-81]
- "Patient Perceptions of Eye Disease and Treatment in Bihar, India," Kirti Kewalramani, Northeastern University; Brayden Lundquist, University of Utah; Nishant Sharma, University of Saskatchewan School of Medicine; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellows in Patna, India [Poster Presentation at 2011 Unite For Sight Global Health & Innovation Conference]
- "The Use of New Visual Aids in Informed Consent for Cataract Surgery in an Indigenous, South Indian Population," Prashanth Somasundaram, Undergraduate, Saint Louis University; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Chennai, India
- "The Effect of Gender Depiction in Visual Aids on Patient Perceptions of Cataract Surgeries in an Indigent, Central Indian Population," Benjamin Long, Undergraduate, Yale University; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Orissa, India
- "An Objective Evaluation of Eye Drop Instillation in Postoperative Cataract Patients," Samuel Icaza, Undergraduate, Brandeis University; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Patna, India
- "Patient Barriers to Cataract Care in India," Matthew Jackson, Undergraduate, University of Buffalo; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Chennai, India
- "An Objective Study of the Proficiency of Eye Drop Instillation in Orissa Patients," Uttara Partap, Williams College
- "Perceptions of Eyeglass Usage in a Low Socioeconomic Status South Indian Population," Vimarsha Swami, Nicholas R. Simmons-Stern, Charlotte Page, Shria Paraashar, Joshua S. Agranat, Nelson Mendoza, Undergraduate Students; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellows in Chennai, India
2009
- "Prevalence of Visual Impairment and Surveys on Patient Perception and Knowledge of Eye Care in Chennai, India," Zhuo Su, Undergraduate, Yale University & Bing Qing Wang, Undergraduate, University of Toronto; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellows in Chennai, India [Poster Presentation at ARVO 2010 Annual Meeting and Pamphlet; Oral Presentation in "Student Leaders in Global Health" session at 2010 Unite For Sight Global Health & Innovation Conference; Oral Presentation at 2010 Canadian Ophthalmological Society]
- "Patient Barriers to Cataract Surgery in Southern India," Nicole Nishanian, California State University San Bernardino; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Chennai, India
- "Survey of Patient Opinions on Eyeglasses and Eye Care in Rural and Slum Populations in Chennai," Kashmira Chawla, Undergraduate, Drake University; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Chennai, India [Publication: The Internet Journal of Epidemiology. 2010 Volume 8 Number 2]
2008
- "The Use of Visual Aid in Informed Consent for Cataract Surgery in an Indigenous, South Indian Population," Abraar Karan, Undergraduate, Yale University; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Chennai, India and Program Development Fellow in Honduras [Publication: Digital Journal of Ophthalmology. 2011; 17(3)., and Oral Presentation in "Student Leaders in Global Health" session at Unite For Sight Global Health and Innovation Summit, April 2009 and Personal Statement]
- "The Prevalence, Use, and Perceived Effects of Complementary Alternative Medicines and Treatments in Bihar, India," Kristin Ow Chapman, Medical Student, NYU School of Medicine; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Bihar, India [Oral Presentation in "Student Leaders in Global Health" session at Unite For Sight Global Health and Innovation Summit, April 2009]
2007
- "Predictors of and Barriers Associated With Poor Follow-up in Patients With Glaucoma in South India,"Bradford Lee, MSc, Medical Student, Stanford University School of Medicine. [Publication: Arch Ophthalmol. 2008 Oct;126(10):1448-54.]
Research Studies Conducted in Ghana
2011
- "Patient Barriers to Cataract Surgery and the Effect of Visual Aids on Cataract Surgery Uptake in Ghana, Honduras, and India," Alim Ramji, Undergraduate, University of Oklahoma [Oral Presentation in "Student Leaders in Global Health" session at Unite For Sight Global Health & Innovation Conference 2012 (forthcoming)]
- "Perceptions about Childhood Eye Care in Ghana," Daryl Ramai, Undergraduate Student, York College of the City University of New York [Oral Presentation in "Student Leaders in Global Health" session at Unite For Sight Global Health & Innovation Conference 2012 (forthcoming)]
- "Barriers to the Uptake of Cataract Surgery of Eye Patients in Tamale, Ghana," Lynn Theprungsirikul, Undergraduate Student, Duke University
- "Gender-Specific Visual Aids on Patient Education of Cataract Surgery," Murtaza Adam, Medical Student, Medical College of Wisconsin
- "Maternal Perception of Clinical Eye Healthcare in Ghanaian Villages," Tejas Pulisetty, Undergraduate Student, Duke University
- "Patient Barriers to Eye Care in Tamale, Ghana," Niharika Goparaju, Undergraduate Student, Saint Louis University
- "Patient Barriers to Eye Care in Kumasi, Ghana," Erin Dwyer, Undergraduate Student, University of Connecticut
- "The Link Between Poverty and Blindness in Ghana," Jonathan Curtis, Public Health Student, Yale University School of Public Health
- "Risk Ractors, Patient Knowledge, Attitudes, and Self-Care Practices Associated With Eye Infections Among Outreach Patients in Southern Ghana,"Jonathan Curtis, Public Health Student, Yale University School of Public Health, and Sophia Chen and Chelsea Savit, Undergraduates, Yale University
2010
- "Risk Factors for Moderate and Severe Glaucoma in a Ghanaian Population," Yifan Chen, Undergraduate, Yale University; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Ghana [Oral Presentation in "Student Leaders in Global Health" session at 2011 Unite For Sight Global Health & Innovation Conference]
- "Barriers to Glaucoma Care in Ghana,"Trenton Bowen, Undergraduate, Arizona State University; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Ghana [Oral Presentation in "Student Leaders in Global Health" session at 2011 Unite For Sight Global Health & Innovation Conference, Poster Presentation at American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2011 Meeting, and Publication: UBC Medical Journal. 2011 September]
- "Factors Involved in the Choice Between Surgery and Couching for Cataract Treatment in Northern Ghana," Lauren Wallace, University of Guelph; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Ghana [Oral Presentation in "Student Leaders in Global Health" session at 2011 Unite For Sight Global Health & Innovation Conference]
- "Factors Affecting Adherence to Glaucoma Medications in Ghana," Bonita Tsai, Undergraduate, McMaster University; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Ghana
- "Proficiency of Eye Drop Instillation in Postoperative Cataract Patients in Ghana," Linda Liu, Undergraduate, University of British Columbia; Tiffany Shiau, Medical Student, Jefferson Medical College; Amanda Murdoch; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellows in Ghana
- "Effectiveness of Visual Diagrams Depicting Post-Operative Cataract Treatment: A Cross-Sectional Analysis in Accra, Ghana," Darrell Lewis and Marie Noland, Medical Students, University of Ottawa; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellows in Ghana
- "Researching the Traditional Remedies and Treatments Used and Why They Are Sought Out Over Preferred Treatments," Claire Fisher, Undergraduate, University of Notre Dame; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Ghana
- "Identifying Female Barriers to Cataract Surgery in Accra, Ghana," Noelle Kelly, Undergraduate, Duke University
- "Patient Perceptions Regarding Eyeglasses in Ghana," Dimas Espinola, MPH Student, University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Health; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Ghana
- "Lens Couching For Cataract in Rural Regions of Northern Ghana," Ee Rah Sung, Undergraduate, Dickinson College; Global Impact Fellow in Ghana
2009
- "Analysis of Age and Severity of Presentation of Open Angle Glaucoma in a Ghanaian Population," Andrew Francis, Medical Student, Boston University School of Medicine; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Ghana [Presentations: Poster Presentation at ARVO 2010 Annual Meeting and Oral Presentation in "Student Leaders in Global Health" session at Unite For Sight Global Health & Innovation Conference 2010]
- "Seeing The Self: Portaits and Self-Perception Among Ghanaians With Varying Visual Capacity," Rebecca Burger-Caplan, Undergraduate, Haverford College; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Ghana [Presentation: Oral Presentation in "Student Leaders in Global Health" session at Unite For Sight Global Health & Innovation Conference 2010]
- "Outcome of Trabeculectomies With Adjunctive Antifibronic Agents in the Management of Primary Open Angle Glaucoma," Naveed Chaudhry, Undergraduate, University of Maryland; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Ghana [Presentations: Poster Presentation at 2010 Unite For Sight Global Health & Innovation Conference]
- "A QALY-Based Analysis of Eyecare Valuation in Ghana," Erica Leavitt, Undergraduate, Princeton University; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Ghana [Presentation: Oral Presentation in "Student Leaders in Global Health" session at Unite For Sight Global Health & Innovation Conference 2010]
- "Patient-Perceived Barriers To Eye Care in Remote Rural Villages Around Accra, Ghana," Katherine Wu, Undergraduate University of Pennsylvania; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Ghana
- "Socioeconomic Challenges of Patients with Clinical Blindness in Rural Ghana," Yuen Chan, Undergraduate, University of Kentucky; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Ghana
- "Seeing Past The Symptoms: Medical Narratives of Ghanaian Eye Patients," Ashley Kilp, Undergraduate, Carnegie Mellon University; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Ghana
2008
- "Accessibility to Health Care: A Survey-Based Study of the Barriers Facing Patients in Rural Ghana," Amogh Sivarapatna, Undergraduate, University of Virginia; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Accra, India [Presentation: Unite For Sight Global Health and Innovation Summit, April 2009]
- "Demographics and Prevalence of Eye Problems in Northern Ghana and Rationale for Treatment," Katherine Hill, Undergraduate, University of Utah; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Tamale, Ghana
2007
- "Quality of Life and The Importance of Sight: Ghanaian Versus American Utility Values," Blair Irwin, MBA, MS, Medical Student, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Accra, Ghana [Oral Presentation in "Student Leaders in Global Health" session at Unite For Sight Global Health and Innovation Summit, April 2009]
Honduras
2011
- "Patient Barriers to Cataract Surgery and the Effect of Visual Aids on Cataract Surgery Uptake in Ghana, Honduras, and India," Alim Ramji, Undergraduate, University of Oklahoma [Presentation: Oral Presentation at Unite For Sight Global Health & Innovation Conference 2012 (forthcoming)]
- "Evaluating Patient Understanding of Post-Cataract Surgery Medication," Elaine Zhou, Undergraduate, Yale University
2010
- "Assessing Barriers to Eye Care in Honduras," Emily Foxhall, Undergraduate, Yale University; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Honduras
- "Honduras Eye Disease Study," Alice Kim, Undergraduate, University of Southern California; Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Honduras