Professor Christian French

Christian French is the Foundation Professor of Optometry at the University of Leicester, where he is leading the development of the new Master of Optometry (MOptom) programme within the School of Healthcare. Christian has extensive clinical experience, working in both primary care and hospital optometry settings, as well as previous academic lecturing posts. His PhD was completed in a primary care setting and looked at ocular heamodynamics and their use in supporting identification of cardiovascular risk in patients. In addition to his thesis, 'The Use of Static Objective Retinal Vessel Analysis in Optometric Practice', Christian has published papers in the academic literature and presented his research findings at a number of international scientific conferences. His current clinical work focusses on the visual rehabilitation of patients suffering from brain injury and vision processing disorders.

• The application of arterio-venous ratio (AVR) cut-off values in clinic to stratify cardiovascular risk in patients. French, C., Cubbidge R.P., Heitmar, R. Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics (2022) 00 1-9

• Comparison of Static Retinal Vessel Caliber Measurements by Different Commercially Available Platforms. Heitmar, R., French C. Optometry and Vision Science (2021) 98:1 1104-1112

• Pulsation or no pulsation? That is the question. French, C., Stodtmeister, R. Optometry Today (2020) 60:2 65-70

• Repeatability of Static Retinal Vessel Analysis in a clinical practice setting. French, C., Heitmar R., Cubbidge, R. (2019) Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 60.9 (2019): 1567-1567.

• Do Static Retinal Vessel Diameters Compliment Cardiovascular Risk Calculations? French, C., Heitmar R. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (2018) 59:9 4266-4266.

• Associations of retinal vessel calibre with cardiovascular disease: a systematic literature review. French, C., Heitmar R. Optometry in Practice (2017) 18:3 155-170

• Ophthalmodynamometry. French, C. Optometry Today (2017) 57:08 64-69

• Retinal vessel analysis – a modern approach to the arterio-venous ratio. French, C. Ophthalmology in Practice (2017) 1:3 44-49

• Cross‐sectional static retinal vessel analysis in routine optometric practice. French, C., and R. Heitmar (2017) Acta Ophthalmologica 95.

• Static retinal vessel analysis in routine optometric practice. French, C., and R. Heitmar (2016) Acta Ophthalmologica 94.

• Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine – optometric considerations. French, C. Optometry Today (2014) 54:21 42-45

• Ocular implications of haemophilia. French C., Eperjesi, F. Optometry Today (2013) 53:21 55- 58

Professional memberships:

• Association of Behavioural & Neuro-Developmental Optometrists (ANBO) [UK] - Member, Council member
• Neuro-Optometry Rehabilitation Association (NORA) [USA] - Member
• Optometric Vision Development & Rehabilitation Association (OVDRA) [USA] - Member
• Association of Optometrists (AOP) [UK] - Member
• Association of Independent Optometrists & Dispensing Opticians (AIO) [UK] - Member
• Ophthalmic Antiques International Collectors Club (OAICC) [UK] - Member, Council member

Academic affiliations:

• Optometry & Visual Performance [International Journal] - Editorial Review Board member

• Visual processing disorders
• Visual symptoms following brain injury (traumatic / acquired)
• Neuro-optometry
• Cardiovascular disease in optometry & ophthalmology

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ocular Haemodynamics

Master of Optometry (MOptom) (Hons)

Member of the College of Optometrists (MCOptom)