As a Lecturer in Optometry at Cambridge (UK), I, along with two of my undergraduate students, have recently launched a survey to explore the perspectives of Muslims around eye examinations and eye symptomatology when fasting during Ramadan.

We are looking for volunteers to help us complete this online survey which takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete. To participate you need to be 18 years or older, identify as Muslim and live in the UK. We aim to gather opinions from as many UK Muslims as possible, whether they fast or not.

Your participation is voluntary, and you will not be paid for taking part. Your participation in this research is greatly appreciated, and your anonymous responses will be valued and respected.

Follow this link to access the survey:

https://aruspsych.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cAphRQy9lbdBuVE

Purpose of the study

We understand that using eye drops during Ramadan may raise religious questions for some individuals, and we seek to understand your personal views on this matter, based on your religious and health considerations. If you decide to participate in the study, you will be asked to complete an anonymous online survey.

This research aims to raise awareness and respect for this religious obligation. Additionally, it aims to help eye care practitioners to be more inclusive of religious beliefs during fasting periods.

What questions are included in this survey?

First you will be asked some general questions about you. This will include your age, education level, gender and the number of days that you fast during Ramadan. These questions will help the researchers compare the findings of this research with previous published research. Gender is captured in the survey to explore differences in dry eye symptoms and compare with known gender-specific differences. You will then be asked some questions about how often you attend eye examinations and if you have any eye conditions (e.g. when was your last sight test?). Next you will be asked about your use of eye drops an if you experience dry eye symptoms. If you wear contact lenses we are also interested if you wear them during Ramadan (this question will only be presented if you are a contact lens wearer).

Will my responses remain anonymous?

Yes, your responses will be fully anonymous and we will not be able to identify you from your responses.

Has this research received Ethics approval?

Yes, this project received Ethics approval from the School Research Ethics Panel at Anglia Ruskin University (ETH2425-1348).   

What will happen to the results of the study?

You will only need to complete the survey once. The research data collected will be stored securely. The research will be submitted as part of undergraduate dissertation and may also be disseminated via conferences and journal publications. A summary of findings will be shared in this blog once data has been analysed.

When would this survey close?

Please participate by 23^rd April 2025.

Contact for Further Information

If you have any queries regarding the survey, please contact:

Dr Marta Vianya-Estopa (Principal Investigator)

Associate Professor in Optometry

Anglia Ruskin University

Cambridge, UK

marta.vianya@aru.ac.uk

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post