Evaluation of an interprofessional education workshop about common ocular conditions for pharmacy and optometry students.

Clinical Relevance: Interprofessional education and collaborative working are known to improve patient outcomes. The evidence to support this approach in optometry is lacking.

Background: There is no published evidence into the effectiveness of interprofessional education for pharmacy and optometry students.

Investigating eye examination-related anxiety in autistic adults.

Clinical Relevance: It is important to investigate whether anxiety is a barrier to accessing eye examinations for autistic adults, because existing research suggests this population are more likely to develop ophthalmic abnormalities.

Background: Anxiety influences healthcare accessibility for autistic people without learning disabilities. Previous qualitative studies by the research team, with a small sample of autistic adults, have indicated several aspects of eyecare services which cause anxiety.

Autism-friendly eyecare: Developing recommendations for service providers based on the experiences of autistic adults.

Purpose: People with autism face significant barriers when accessing healthcare services. Eye examinations present unique challenges. Accessibility of this healthcare sector for people with autism has not been investigated previously.

Visual Sensory Experiences From the Viewpoint of Autistic Adults.

Although previous research has investigated altered sensory reactivity in autistic individuals, there has been no specific focus on visual sensory experiences, particularly in adults. Using qualitative methods, this study aimed to characterize autistic visual sensory symptoms, contextualize their impact and document any associated coping strategies. A total of 18 autistic adults took part in four focus groups which involved questions around visual experiences, the impact of these on daily life, and strategies for their reduction.