Sheila West

Sheila K. West, Ph.D.
El-Maghraby Professor of Preventive Ophthalmology

Contact Information:
Wilmer Eye Institute, Room 129
600 North Wolfe Street
Baltimore, MD 21287
Phone: 410 955 2606
Fax: 410 955 0096
e-mail: shwest@jhmi.edu

Education
Ph.D in Epidemiology: Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health
Pharm. D. University of California Medical Center at San Francisco

Research Interests
Trachoma:
A longtime interest in research on blinding trachoma has lead to clinical trials in Tanzania, Ethiopia and Niger. In collaboration with the World Health Organization, we investigate the use of antibiotics, surgery and improved facial hygiene as keys to combating the blinding disease. Current research is focused on risk factors for recurrent trichiasis, and effect of multiple yearly mass treatment rounds on active trachoma and infection.  

Cataract:
As the leading cause of blindness across the globe, cataract is a major aspect of our  research. Variations of cataract rates among different populations have spurred studies in Caucasian, African-America, African and Latino groups. We have connected sunlight exposure, smoking and mortality to cataract and are currently investigating surgical health disparities.

Diabetes/Diabetic Retinopathy:
Projects in Arizona and Baltimore identify risk factors for diabetes and diabetic eye disease, and health education approaches to avoid the devastating effects diabetic retinopathy.

Vision and Function: Older Drivers
Older drivers are at high risk of crashes, and death from crashes, yet driving is a key to independent living. In an effort to improve driving safety for as long as possible, we are investigating how vision and cognition in older individuals affect driving behaviors. An innovative driving monitoring system is now in use in Salisbury, Maryland as part of a longitudinal study of older drivers. Previous work has documented the impact of vision on multiple measures of function.

Publications

Freeman EE, Gange SJ, Munoz B, West SK. Driving status and risk of entry into long-term care in older adults. Am J Public Health 2006;96:1254-1259. 

West SK, West ES, Alemayehu W, Melese M, Munoz B, Imeru A, Worku A, Gaydos C, Meinert CL, Quinn T. Single-dose Azithromycin prevents trichiasis recurrence following surgery: Randomized trial in Ethiopia. Arch Ophthalmol 2006;124:309-314.

Friedman DS, Munoz B, Roche KB, Massof R, Broman A, West SK. Poor uptake of cataract surgery in nursing home residents: the Salisbury Eye Evaluation in Nursing Home Groups study. Arch Ophthalmol 2005;123:1581-7.

Munoz B, Klein R, Rodriguez, Snyder R, West SK.  Prevalence of age-related macular degeneration in a population-based sample of Hispanic people in Arizona: Proyecto VER. Arch Ophthalmol 2005;123:1575-1580.

Freeman EE, Munoz B, Turano KA, West SK. Measures of visual function and time to driving cessation in older adults. Optom Vis Sci 2005;82:765-773.

West SK, Longstreth JD, Munoz B, Pitcher HM, Duncan DD. Model of risk of cortical cataract in the US population with exposure to increased ultraviolet radiation due to stratospheric ozone depletion.  Am J Epidemiol 2005;162:1-9.

West SK, Munoz B, Mkocha H, Holland MJ, Solomon AW, Foster A, Bailey RL, Mabey DCW. Infection with Chlamydia trachomatis after mass treatment of a trachoma hyperendemic community in Tanzania: a longitudinal study. Lancet 2005;366:1296-1300.

West SK, Munoz B, Rubin GS, Bandeen-Roche K, Broman AT, Turano KA. Compensatory strategy use identified risk of incident disability for the visually impaired. Arch Ophthalmol 2005;123:1242-1247.

Broman AT, Hafiz G, Munoz B, Rodriguez J, Snyder R, Klein R, West SK. Cataract and barriers to cataract surgery in a US Hispanic population. Proyecto VER. Arch Ophthalmol 2005;123:1231-1236.