Prof Paul Foster
Professor of Ophthalmic Epidemiology & Glaucoma Studies
Institute of Ophthalmology
Faculty of Brain Sciences
- Joined UCL
- 1st Nov 2003
Research summary
A long term focus of my research career has been directed at the clinical characteristics, prevention and treatment of primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG), with major research studies in Mongolia, Singapore, Bangladesh, Thailand, China and the UK. This research has culminated in authorship of over 100 research publications including:
- Definition and classification of glaucoma in epidemiological research (Br J Opthalmol 2002) - one of the most highly cited papers of all time in eye and vision science, which defined modern classification of PACG
- Genome Wide Association Analysis Identifies 3 New Susceptibility Loci for Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma (Nature Genetics 2012)
- Genome Wide Association Study Identifies Five New Susceptibility Loci for Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma (Nature Genetics 2016)
- Effectiveness of Early Lens Extraction in Treatment of Primary Angle-closure Glaucoma - (Lancet 2016) - A major randomised controlled trial which identifies lens extraction as the optimal initial treatment for people with PACG
- Laser Peripheral Iridotomy for the Prevention of Primary Angle-closure Glaucoma (Lancet 2019) - This trial identifies a small benefit for prophylactic laser iridotomy in people at risk of angle-closure, but suggests a poor cost effectiveness, on the basis of low rates of new disease
- Glaucoma and Intraocular Pressure in the EPIC Norfolk Eye Study: A Cross Sectional Study (BMJ 2017)
- Genome Wide Analysis Identifies 68 New Loci Associated with Intraocular Pressure and Improves Risk Prediction for Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (Nature Genetics 2018)
- The association of Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer Thinning with Current and Future Cognitive Decline (JAMA Neurology 2018)
Teaching summary
I teach on MSc Ophthalmology, MSc Optometry and MSc Biology of Vision courses, and lead module 8 - Therapeutics for the Anterior Segment of the Eye on the MSc Ophthalmology course (2012 to 2019). I am leading a comprehensive redesign of this module, revising the focus from anterior segment of the eye to a disease specific focus on glaucoma. I teach on FRCOphth final exam revision course and also teach residents staff at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. I teach on Royal College of Ophthalmologists courses around the UK, as well as teaching at UK and International conferences.
Education
- University College London
- Doctorate, Doctor of Philosophy | 1995
- University of Nottingham
- Doctorate, Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery | 1989
- University of Nottingham
- Doctorate, Bachelor of Medical Science | 1987