Oulu University of Applied Sciences Master’s Degree in Clinical Optometry Thesis Research Projects
Clinical Guideline for Finnish Optometrists – Assessment of Posterior Vitreous Detachment
Name: Mr. Anssi Hakala, BS, MOptom
Title of the Master’s thesis: Clinical Guideline for Finnish Optometrists – Assessment of Posterior Vitreous Detachment
Description: The purpose of this research development was to produce evidence-based material about posterior vitreous detachment and its complications. The thesis aimed to create a clinical guideline for Finnish optometrists on assessing posterior vitreous detachment. The research development was commissioned by The Finnish Ethical Board of Optometry (OEN).
Full-text link: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023110128361
Assessment and Management of Keratoconus: Clinical Guideline for Finnish Optometrists
Name: Ms. Leea Hotti, BS, MOptom.
Title of the Master’s thesis: Assessment and Management of Keratoconus: Clinical Guideline for Finnish Optometrists
Description: The purpose of this master’s thesis was to determine and combine appropriate information concerning keratoconus assessment and management, aiming to produce knowledge to be used in the development phase of the thesis. The purpose of the Research development was to create a clinical guideline concerning keratoconus assessment and management to the use of optometrists in Finland, aiming to select the relevant methods for optometrist practise in Finland. The guidelines should support the utilization of Finnish optometrists as a part of efficient eye health care.
Full-text link: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023112531661
The guideline adherence of optometrists when assessing and referring a patient with primary open-angle glaucoma
Name: Ms. Outi Saarikivi, BS, MOptom, MHC
Title of the Master’s thesis: The guideline adherence of optometrists when assessing and referring a patient with primary open-angle glaucoma
Description: The purpose of this master’s thesis was to improve the knowledge of Finnish optometrists about the assessment of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients. This thesis contains two sections: integrative literature review and the development of a guideline. The purpose of the research section was to map optometrists’ adherence to glaucoma guidelines. The aim was to observe changes in performing comprehensive eye examinations and to discover the factors that affect the adherence. The purpose of the development section was to create a guideline for Finnish optometrists about POAG patients’ assessment. The development of the guideline was based on pre-existing glaucoma guidelines, integrative literature research, and a workshop development method.
Full-text link: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023110728827
Optometrists as Primary Eye Care Providers and their Role as Clinical Eye Health Assessors in Finland
Name: Mr. Pasi Hiukka
Title of the Master’s thesis: Optometrists as Primary Eye Care Providers and their Role as Clinical Eye Health Assessors in Finland
Description: This study aims to demonstrate that Finnish optometrists have the skills to act as primary eye care providers and that the current state of eye healthcare in Finland requires a new division of labour to meet the healthcare challenges of an ageing population.
Full-text link: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023101827720
ViPo, a Visual Electronic Medical Record Prototype: An Innovation Project
Name: Mr. Miikka Pasanen
Title of the Master’s thesis: ViPo, a Visual Electronic Medical Record Prototype: An Innovation Project
Description: The purpose of this master’s thesis is to develop and produce a prototype of an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) that is pro-tuned for optometrists and ophthalmologists. The thesis was carried out as an innovation project for the Oulu University of Applied Sciences (OUAS) Clinical Optometry degree program. The prototype aims to unify the information recording, thus minimizing the risks for any contradictions by the next inspector.
Full-text link: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023100426847
Assessment and Management of Seasonal and Perennial Allergic Conjunctivitis: Guideline for Finnish Optometrists
Name: Ms. Mari Suuronen
Title of the Master’s thesis: Clinical Guideline for Finnish Optometrists – Geriatric Patient Assessment and Management: An Innovation Project
Description: Ocular allergies are common and often benign but subjectively harmful eye diseases. The most encountered ocular allergies are seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC) and perennial allergic conjunctivitis (PAC). These two conditions could be mainly managed by optometrists which could partly alleviate the crowded eye health care system of Finland. Currently, there is no guideline on this subject in Finland that is comprehensive enough and utilizes the knowledge of optometrists.
Full-text link: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023091425787
Clinical Guideline for Finnish Optometrists – Geriatric Patient Assessment and Management: An Innovation Project
Name: Ms. Hanna Miettinen
Title of the Master’s thesis: Clinical Guideline for Finnish Optometrists – Geriatric Patient Assessment and Management: An Innovation Project
Description: Life expectancy continues to grow worldwide, and an aging population in health care will be a growing group. Age-related changes in the eyes predispose to some eye diseases. These eye diseases may cause massive social and economic burdens if left untreated. Optometrists have the crucial role of prevention of these age-related eye diseases. In this study, age-related eye diseases are considered to include macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, and dry eye related
to normal aging. These diseases cause symptoms that strongly affect vision and quality of life. This study aimed to create evidence-based guideline recommendations for Finnish optometrists’ geriatric patient assessment and management.
Full-text link: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023092126140
Assessment and Management of Pediatric Patients with Amblyopia: Clinical Guideline for Finnish Optometrists
Name: Ms. Liza Ramsland
Title of the Master’s thesis: Assessment and Management of Pediatric Patients with Amblyopia: Clinical Guideline for Finnish Optometrists
Description: This thesis project aimed to construct clinical guidelines for Finnish optometrists on assessing and managing pediatric patients with amblyopia.
Full-text link: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023091525887
Myopia Management with Miyosmart Lenses: Case Study-based Development Project
Name: Ms. Satu Järvinen
Title of the Master’s thesis: Myopia Management with Miyosmart Lenses: Case Study-based Development Project
Description: This study aims to evaluate when it is suitable to offer myopia control as management in progressed myopia. This case study describes the assessment and management of myopia management on daily work at an optometrist’s appointment.
Full-text link: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023052212847
Digital Care Pathway for Amblyopic Patients in Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District: Development Project
Name: Ms. Mia Rosqvist
Title of the Master’s thesis: Digital Care Pathway for Amblyopic Patients in Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District: Development Project
Description: The purpose of this development project was to gather all the relevant information about amblyopia for the patient and their guardians in one place and to create an accessible contact channel for the patients. At the same time, efforts were made to find reliable methods for controlling visual acuity remotely.
Full-text link: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023052112347
Assessment and Management of Demodex Blepharitis: Case Study-based Development Project
Name: Ms. Ann-Caroline Sinisalo
Title of the Master’s thesis: Assessment and Management of Demodex Blepharitis: Case Study-based Development Project
Description: The purpose of this master thesis was to study Demodex via a case study. The aim was to figure out the need for treatment of a symptom-free client with signs of cylindrical dandruff associated with Demodex blepharitis.
Full-text link: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023052614452
The Effect of Anthocyanins on Accommodation in Visual Display Terminal Work: Systematic Literature Review
Name: Ms Suvi Moisanen, BS, MOptom
Title of the Master’s thesis: The Effect of Anthocyanins on Accommodation in Visual Display Terminal Work: Systematic Literature Review.
Description: This thesis work aimed to determine whether anthocyanins, usually available from vegetables, influence ocular accommodation when burdened with visual display terminal (VDT) work. The systematic literature review investigated the connection between anthocyanin’s impact on accommodation for VDT work compared to placebo.
Full-text link: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202304024598
Clinical Guideline for Optometrists – Pre-cataract Surgery Assessment: An Innovation Project
Name: Ms. Päivi Tervaniemi
Title of the Master’s thesis: Clinical Guideline for Optometrists – Pre-cataract Surgery Assessment: An Innovation Project
Description: The purpose of this thesis was to create a clinical assessment guideline for optometrists for managing pre-surgery cataract patients in Finland and to create an easily understandable theoretic background about the basics of the human lens crystalline and the cataract.
Full-text link: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022121027794
Clinical Guideline for Finnish Optometrists – Patient History, Creating a Patient History Questionnaire: An Innovation Project
Name: Ms. Satu Andersson
Title of the Master’s thesis: Clinical Guideline for Finnish Optometrists – Patient History, Creating a Patient History Questionnaire: An Innovation Project
Description: The purpose of this project was to produce evidence-based patient history guidelines for the Finnish Ethical Board of Optometry (OEN). This innovation project was performed as a literature review analysis-based research project between fall 2021 and fall 2022.
Full-text link: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022120827353
Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: Case Study
Name: Mr. Vesa Peuhkuri, BSc, MOptom
Title of the Master’s thesis: Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: Case Study
Description: This study aims to evaluate the potential of teleophthalmology in glaucoma screening at optometrists’ appointments.
Full-text link: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022100220732
Developing a Model of a Dry Eye Practice in Finland: Survey Study
Name: Ms. Päivi Nokipii, BSc, MOptom
Title of the Master’s thesis: Developing a Model of a Dry Eye Practice in Finland: Survey Study
Description: This study aims to build a dry eye practice model in Finland based on the information from four expert interviews and the Dry Eye Workshop literature reports.
Full-text link: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022100320748
Digital Eye Strain in the New Era of Digitalization After the Outbreak of COVID-19: Scoping Review
Name: Ms. Riikka Torvela, BSc, MOptom
Title of the Master’s thesis: Digital Eye Strain in the New Era of Digitalization After the Outbreak of COVID-19: Scoping Review
Description: This scoping review aimed to identify existing research results and possible information deficiencies in the existing studies and compare empirical evidence of how the outbreak of COVID-19 has impacted the use of digital devices and, thereby, digital eye strain in adults.
Full-text link: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022100420834
Advancing Technology of Automated Refraction – Developing an Algorithm for Automated Subjective Refractometer: An Innovation Project
Name: Mr. Arto Hartikainen, BSc, MOptom
Title of the Master’s thesis: Advancing Technology of Automated Refraction – Developing an Algorithm for Automated Subjective Refractometer: An Innovation Project
Description: The purpose of this master thesis was to develop an algorithm for an automatic subjective refractometer with which the refractive status of an eye could be measured. It was an innovation project to Topcon Healthcare Solution Emea Oy, later called a “Company”. This master thesis was focused only on the distance refraction. It did not include binocular vision problems and near vision examination.
Full text link: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022053013362
