Personal profile

Biography

Marianne is a clinical eyecare researcher and orthoptist. Marianne is the Prof. Henry Brodaty Mid-Career Fellow at the National Centre for Healthy Ageing, a collaboration between Monash University and Peninsula Health. Marianne's pioneering research in dementia-friendly eyecare has been funded by the UK Royal Society of Medicine, Fight for Sight (the UK's leading sight loss research charity) and the Dementia Australia Research Foundation. Her interdisciplinary research has been guided at each stage by people living with dementia and carers.

Marianne's current project aims to design a dementia eyecare pathway for residential aged care, building on previous work in the community exploring eye test experiences for people with dementia and families. Because of Marianne's work, people can seek dementia-friendly eyecare at over 300 optometry practices across Australia and access information about dementia-friendly eye tests through Dementia Australia. Marianne led a team to create a comprehensive training course for optometrists about dementia-friendly eyecare, and has delivered professional development training for optometrists in Australia and the UK.

Research interests

Dementia-friendly eyecare, dementia rehabilitation, visual processing in amblyopia and other neurodevelopmental conditions

Community service

Public talks about eye health and dementia:
Woodlands Park Retirement Village
Seaford Probus Club
Cire Dementia Cafe
Pint of Science Festival

Professional development talks about neurodegenerative diseases and eye health
Specsavers Clinical Conference
Optometry Australia - Optometry Virtually Connected
Optical Dispensers Australia
Dementia Australia Combined Communities of Practice
NHS Scotland Optometry (NES)

Clinical activities

Clinical Educator - La Trobe Eye Clinic

Consulting

National Eye Care
Optometry Australia

Education/Academic qualification

Vision Science, PhD, Distorted vision in children with amblyopia ('lazy eye'), Glasgow Caledonian University

Award Date: 2 Jul 2015

MRes Health Sciences

BSc Hons Orthoptics First Class

External positions

Honorary, Australian College of Optometry

Honorary, La Trobe University

Honorary, University of Melbourne

Research area keywords

  • dementia
  • amblyopia
  • binocular vision
  • visual function
  • health services research