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Miss Jody Leone

Associate Lecturer, Orthoptics

C43A - Jeffrey Miller Admin Building Cumberland Campus
The University of Sydney

Biographical details

Jody Leone is an early career researcher and academic researching the area of the fundamentals of vision screening. As there has been a recent shift from screening the vision of school aged children to now screening preschool aged children, the cognitive capacity and visual capacity is different within this younger age group and has not been previously evaluated using systematic and evidenced based methods. Therefore, there is an imperative to identify a suitable vision test to use in the preschool age group. A possible test for the use in preschool aged children is the Amblyopia Treatment Study HOTV Electronic Visual Acuity tester. Jody has been involved in evaluating this test for testability within a preschool age group and has determined the age norms of this test for preschool age children using this test and other commonly used vision tests. This was to determine the reliability of these vision tests as a referral tool. In addition, visual acuity testing using an adult based standardised vision test has been evaluated in adolescent children to determine how sensitive and specific this tool is at detecting refractive errors. This work and future research in the area of preschool vision screening methods is imperative to inform students of current research in the area of vision screening, and to inform health policy regarding preschool vision screening programs, and evidenced based referral criteria.


In 2010, she authored a refereed paper that received an editorial in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) regarding the detection of refractive errors using visual acuity which is the main vision assessment during vision screening practices. What was interesting about the finding was that although visual acuity testing is a gold-standard assessment of visual function, the ability to detect hyperopia and astigmatism using visual acuity alone is not reliable, but the detection of myopia is reliable. This paper has since been cited 12 times.

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Research interests

Research interests include the development of vision in children, determining a suitable visual acuity test for preschool aged children. The testability of a vision test for children, and the comparability of visual acuity tests with the adult gold-standard. The normal parameters of vision and ocular alignment in children. Myopia development research.

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Teaching and supervision

Unit of study co-ordinator for ORTH 5041 Introduction to Professional Practice

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Current projects

Sydney Paediatric Eye Disease Study

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Associations

Member of the Orthoptic Association and a member of the Australian Orthoptic Board

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Awards and honours

Paediatric Orthoptic Award at the 66th Annual Scientific Conference of the Orthoptic Association of Australia inc. Brisbane, 2009

Dr George Burniston-Cumberland Foundation Fellowship 2008

Paediatric Orthoptic Award at the 65th Annual Scientific Conference of the Orthoptic Association of Australia inc. Melbourne, 2008

Paediatric Orthoptic Award at the 64th Annual Scientific Conference of the Orthoptic Association of Australia inc. Perth, 2007

The Orthoptic Association of Australia (NSW Branch) Prize for the highest marks for the honours report, 2003

Bachelor of Applied Vision Sciences (Orthoptics) Hons Graduated with Honours Class 1

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Selected publications

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Journals

  • Pai, A., Rose, K., Leone (nee Major), J., Haji Sharbini, S., Burlutsky, G., Varma, R., Wong, T., Mitchell, P. (2012). Amblyopia Prevalence and Risk Factors in Australian Preschool Children. Ophthalmology, 119(1), 138-144.
  • Leone (nee Major), J., Gole, G., Mitchell, P., Kifley, A., Pai, A., Rose, K. (2012). Visual acuity testability and comparability in Australian preschool children: The Sydney Paediatric Eye Disease Study. Eye, 26(7), 925-932.
  • Leone (nee Major), J., Mitchell, P., Morgan, I., Kifley, A., Rose, K. (2010). Use of Visual Acuity to Screen for Significant Refractive Errors in Adolescents: Is It Reliable? Archives of Ophthalmology, 128(7), 894-899.
  • Leone (nee Major), J., Cornell, E., Morgan, I., Mitchell, P., Kifley, A., Wang, J., Rose, K. (2009). Prevalence of Heterophoria and Associations with Refractive Error, Heterotropia and Ethnicity in Australian School Children. British Journal of Ophthalmology (BJO Online), 94(5), 542-546.
  • Leone (nee Major), J., Jolly, N. (2005). Literature Review: Non Standard Vision Tests to Predict Functional Vision. Australian Orthoptic Journal, 38(2004/5), 35-40.
  • Leone (nee Major), J., Jolly, N., Heard, R. (2003). The effects of reading from different mediums (computer screen and paper) on blink rates and lacrimation. Australian Orthoptic Journal, 37, 18-25.

Conferences

  • Jolly, N., Blanchette, S., Leone (nee Major), J., Heard, R. (2006). Increasing Driver Safety Through Vision Tests and Education - A community based program. Australasian Road Safety Research, Policing and Education.
  • Jolly, N., Leone (nee Major), J., Blanchette, S. (2004). Mesoopic Vision assessment in the Senior Driver. Transactions of the Xth International Orthoptic Congress, Australia: International Orthoptic Association.
  • Jolly, N., Leone (nee Major), J., Blanchette, S. (2003). Mesopic Visual Assessments. Australian Orthoptic Association Annual Scientific Conference.

2012

  • Pai, A., Rose, K., Leone (nee Major), J., Haji Sharbini, S., Burlutsky, G., Varma, R., Wong, T., Mitchell, P. (2012). Amblyopia Prevalence and Risk Factors in Australian Preschool Children. Ophthalmology, 119(1), 138-144.
  • Leone (nee Major), J., Gole, G., Mitchell, P., Kifley, A., Pai, A., Rose, K. (2012). Visual acuity testability and comparability in Australian preschool children: The Sydney Paediatric Eye Disease Study. Eye, 26(7), 925-932.

2010

  • Leone (nee Major), J., Mitchell, P., Morgan, I., Kifley, A., Rose, K. (2010). Use of Visual Acuity to Screen for Significant Refractive Errors in Adolescents: Is It Reliable? Archives of Ophthalmology, 128(7), 894-899.

2009

  • Leone (nee Major), J., Cornell, E., Morgan, I., Mitchell, P., Kifley, A., Wang, J., Rose, K. (2009). Prevalence of Heterophoria and Associations with Refractive Error, Heterotropia and Ethnicity in Australian School Children. British Journal of Ophthalmology (BJO Online), 94(5), 542-546.

2006

  • Jolly, N., Blanchette, S., Leone (nee Major), J., Heard, R. (2006). Increasing Driver Safety Through Vision Tests and Education - A community based program. Australasian Road Safety Research, Policing and Education.

2005

  • Leone (nee Major), J., Jolly, N. (2005). Literature Review: Non Standard Vision Tests to Predict Functional Vision. Australian Orthoptic Journal, 38(2004/5), 35-40.

2004

  • Jolly, N., Leone (nee Major), J., Blanchette, S. (2004). Mesoopic Vision assessment in the Senior Driver. Transactions of the Xth International Orthoptic Congress, Australia: International Orthoptic Association.

2003

  • Jolly, N., Leone (nee Major), J., Blanchette, S. (2003). Mesopic Visual Assessments. Australian Orthoptic Association Annual Scientific Conference.
  • Leone (nee Major), J., Jolly, N., Heard, R. (2003). The effects of reading from different mediums (computer screen and paper) on blink rates and lacrimation. Australian Orthoptic Journal, 37, 18-25.
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