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Professor Brendan Barrett,
Professor of Visual Development

Information about Professor Brendan Barrett at the University of Bradford.

School of Optometry & Vision Science
(Faculty of Life Sciences)
Email:
b.t.barrett@bradford.ac.uk
Telephone:
+44 1274 235589
Photo of Professor Brendan Barrett

Biography

Brendan trained as an Optometrist at the Dublin Institute of Technology and graduated in 1989. In 1994 he was awarded a PhD in Medicine from University College Dublin. In 2010 he graduated with a BSc in Psychology from the Open University.

In 1994 he became a lecturer in the Department of Vision Sciences at Glasgow Caledonian University where he worked for two years. He then joined the Department of Optometry at the University of Bradford as a lecturer in 1996. In 2000 he became a senior lecturer, and then a 'Reader in Vision Science' in 2007. He was Director of the Vision Science Research Group from 2006-2010. In summer 2014, his title changed to Professor of Visual Development.

Research

AmblyopiaSpecifically I am interested in research aimed at understanding the impact of amblyopia upon those who live with it, and understanding the aetiology of amblyopia and its typically associated conditions of strabismus and anisometropia.Vision and SportIs there anything elite about the vision of elite sportspeople? There are claims that vision is superior in elites but little evidence to support this assertion or the assertion that vision training can lead to better sport performance. Currently, we have a major, BBSRC-funded project aimed at investigating these issues.Vision and ReadingTogether with Dr Jim Gilchrist, I am interested in understanding whether subtle visual anomalies can lead to reading difficulties and establishing how professionals working with those with reading difficulties can better work together. We are currently running a major, BBSRC-funded project aimed at investigating vision in elite sportspeople. To support the realisation of this projects aims and objectives, we have developed strong links with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).We also have live College of Optometrists and National Eye Research Centre (Yorkshire branch) grants aimed at understanding how amblyopic visual deficits can be better understood and treated, and how Optometrists and other professionals can better serve children presenting with difficulties in reading.

Teaching

Details on teaching interests, highlights and modules are available for Professor Brendan Barrett as follows:

Teaching interests

I am the module leader for the Refraction and Refractive Error module (1st year, BSc Optometry programme). I also teach on the Assessment & Management of Binocular Vision (2nd year module) and Evidence-Based Optometry 2 module (final year module).