Dr Ketan Parmar is an optometrist by profession, having graduated from The University of Manchester with a Master’s degree in 2018. In summer 2022, he completed his PhD in autism, vision and accessible eyecare, working closely with autistic adults.

Research

Ketan continues his research career, currently the Unit Lead for the IOVS Research Dissertation unit. Furthermore, he is currently supervising PhD and Master's students.

Ketan's research areas of interest: are autism and vision; the causes of visual stress; and the impacts of novel teaching strategies.

Ketan has PI'd a project evaluating the suitability of the Easy Eyecare Pathway for autistic people. This was a collaborative project with SeeAbility.

He is currently Co-PI for projects investigating medication safety in autistic people, and piloting introducing autism affirming education into optometry education and eyecare education into day services for people with additional needs. 

Teaching and qualifications

Ketan has a Professional Certificate in Medical Retina, Glaucoma and Low Vision. Currently, he is a Lecturer in Advanced CLinical Optometric Practice and his teaching duties mainly lie in the IOVS programme at The University of Manchester. He has been awarded FHEA.

Ketan’s contributions to teaching include Binocular Vision (undergraduate), Dispensing (undergraduate), Emerging Optometry (undergraduate), Medical Retina (postgraduate), Low Vision (postgraduate), Glaucoma (postgraduate), Research DIssertation (postgraduate) and Qualitative Research Methods (postgraduate). Ketan is the Optometry CPD Lead at the university, and has experience in developing and delivering workshops, presentations, discussion sessions and examinations. Alongside this, Ketan has regularly worked in independent optometry practices, including two of the UK’s leading practices.