Dr. Aleks Mankowska
Assistant Professor
- Area
- School of Optometry & Vision ScienceFaculty of Life Sciences
- Phone

Biography
Aleks is an optometrist and lecturer in the Bradford School and Vision Science (BSOVS). She has responsibility for the Paediatric, Binocular Vision and Reading Difficulty Clinics working with final year students who are gaining clinical experience of patients presenting with problems of eye muscle coordination or difficulty with reading. She also works in the Special Schools Eyecare Service, delivering eye care services to children and young people with learning disabilities and autism. She has worked as a Clinical Supervisor in undergraduate Optometry clinics at the Universities of Bradford and Manchester.
Aleks's first degree (also from Bradford) was in Modern Languages, after which she worked for 11 years in the automotive industry mainly in customer management and logistics. She has also worked as a team member and team leader on many office-based and shop-floor projects aimed at improving workflow or customer service.
She returned to study in 2003, graduated from Bradford in 2007 with a BSc (Hons) in Optometry. She was awarded a PhD in 2013 for a study of blur adaptation in human vision. For a number of years she combined part-time roles of Staff Optometrist at Bradford University and Specialist Optometrist at York Hospital. At York she worked as a Specialist Optometrist in the AMD Treatment Clinic and was part of the Ophthalmology Research team. She has practised as a locum optometrist, with experience of both the multiple and independent sectors. In September 2019 Aleks became a full-time member of the BSOVS.
Research
Binocular Vision
The reading process
Adaptation to blur and the impact on visual performance
Macular Degeneration
Teaching
Binocular Vision
Assessment of visual problems of reading difficulties
Professional activities
Awards (3)
- PhD (1 December 2013)
- BSc (Hons) Optometry (1 July 2007)
- BA (Hons) Modern Languages (1 July 1992)
Professional associations (2)
- College of Optometrists, Trustee, Council Member for Yorkshire and the Humber (20 June 2022)
- General Optical Council, Registrant (8 October 2008)
Publications
Peer reviewed journal (5)
Vision and visual history in elite/near-elite level cricketers and rugby-league players
Barrett, Brendan T.; Flavell, Jonathan C.; Bennett, S.J.; Cruickshank, Alice G.; Mankowska, Aleksandra M.; Harris, J.M.; Buckley, John G. (2017) Sports Medicine - Open. 3
The time course of blur adaptation in emmetropes and myopes.
Khan KA;Dawson K;Mankowska A;Cufflin MP;Mallen EA; (2013) Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics. 33
Effect of blur adaptation on human parafoveal vision
Mankowska A.;Aziz K.;Cufflin M.;Whitaker D.;Mallen E. (2012) Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 53, 1145-1150.
Simultaneous measurement of objective refraction, accommodation response and axial length of the human eye
Alderson A.;Mankowska A.;Cufflin M.;Mallen E. (2011) Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics. 31, 100-108.
Effect of blur adaptation on blur sensitivity and discrimination in emmetropes and myopes
Mallen, Edward A.H.; Cufflin, Matthew P.; Mankowska, Aleksandra M. (2007)