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Sofonias Addis Fekadu

Sofonias Addis Fekadu

PhD Candidate
Postgraduate Research Student
Medicine & Health School of Optometry and Vision Science

BIOGRAPHY

Sofonias Addis Fekadu, born on May 27, 1992, obtained his bachelor’s degree in optometry in 2013 and a master’s degree in clinical optometry in 2018. He has held various roles including clinician, community service provider, researcher, and academician at the University of Gondar Comprehensive and Specialized Hospital in Gondar, Ethiopia.

Sofonias has joined the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, as a PhD student since February 2024. His research focuses on exploring the natural history of meibomian gland dysfunction. 

Research Title: The Exploration of Natural History of Meibomian gland Dysfunction.

Supervisors: 

1.   Professor Fiona Stapleton

2. Professor Stephanie Watson

Research Abstract    

Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a chronic diffuse abnormality or functional disturbance characterized by obstruction of terminal ducts and or qualitative/quantitative changes in glandular secretion. MGD results in alterations in both the quality and quantity of meibum, which can subsequently induce evaporative dry eye and disturbance to the ocular surfaces.

Variations in definition, diagnostic methodologies, treatment strategies, grading the severity of the condition, and the lack of robust clinical trials pose obstacles to establishing a unified understanding of the natural progression of the disease.

This project aims to investigate the epidemiology of MGD, including prevalence rates, risk factors, and impact, as well as the disease profile, and diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. It will utilize data from both a population-based investigation of dry eye disease in Australia and a clinical registry reporting on adult patients with dry eye.

 
Email

s.fekadu@unsw.edu.au

1.      Fekadu SA, Seid MA, Akalu Y, Gela YY, Diress M, Getnet M, Dagnew B, Belsti Y. Factors associated with diabetic retinopathy screening and regular eye checkup practice among diabetic patients attending Felege Hiwot Specialized Hospital. Int J Ophthalmol 2022;15(11):1829-1836.

2.      Fekadu SA, Assem AS, Adimassu NF. Prevalence of pterygium and its associated factors among adults aged 18 years and above in Gambella town, Southwest Ethiopia, May 2019. PloS one. 2020 Sep 3;15(9): e0237891

3.      Fekadu S, Assem A, Belsti Y. Near Vision Spectacle Coverage and Associated Factors Among Adults Living in Finote Selam Town, Northwest Ethiopia: Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study. Clinical Ophthalmology (Auckland, NZ). 2020; 14:3121.

4.      Adimassu NF, Assem AS, Fekadu SA. Postoperative trachomatous trichiasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis study. International Health. 2023 Feb 28: ihad014.

5.      Alemayehu AM, Yibekal BT, Fekadu SA. Prevalence of vernal keratoconjunctivitis and its associated factors among children in Gambella town, southwest Ethiopia, June 2018. PloS one. 2019 Apr 18;14(4): e0215528.

6.      Getnet M, Akalu Y, Dagnew B, Gela YY, Belsti Y, Diress M, Fekadu SA, Seid MA. Visual impairment and its associated factors among medical and health sciences students at the University of Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia. PLoS One. 2021 Aug 19;16(8): e0255369. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255369. PMID: 34411104.

7.      Assem AS, Tegegne MM, Fekadu SA. Prevalence and associated factors of myopia among school children in Bahir Dar city, Northwest Ethiopia, 2019. PloS one. 2021 Mar 22;16(3):e0248936

8.      Belsti Y, Gela YY, Akalu Y, Dagnew B, Getnet M, Seid MA, Diress M, Yeshaw Y, Fekadu SA. Willingness of Ethiopian Population to Receive COVID-19 Vaccine. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare. 2021; 14:1233.

9.      Guchi GS, Mersha GA, Alimaw YA, Assem AS, Fekadu SA. Vision-Related Quality of Life and Associated Factors Among an Adult Population with Glaucoma Attending a Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. Clinical Ophthalmology. 2023 Dec 31:225-37.

10.  Assem AS, Fekadu SA, Yigzaw AA, Nigussie ZM, Achamyeleh AA. Level of Glaucoma Drug Adherence and Its Associated Factors Among Adult Glaucoma Patients Attending Felege Hiwot Specialized Hospital, Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia. Clinical Optometry. 2020; 12:189.

11.  Belie NY, Ayele FA, Mengist B, Alemayehu AM, Assem AS, Fekadu SA, Yibekal BT. Patients’ Satisfaction with Topical Anti-Glaucoma Medications and Associated Factors at Gondar University Tertiary Eye Care and Training Center, Northwest Ethiopia, 2021. Clinical Optometry. 2023 Dec 31:139-46.

12.  Tegegne MM, Fekadu SA, Assem AS. Prevalence of Strabismus and Its Associated Factors Among School-Age Children Living in Bahir Dar City: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study. Clinical Optometry. 2021; 13:103.

13.  Gesesse E, Fekadu SA, Belete GT. Willingness of corneal donation and its associated factors among adult patients attending Gondar University Comprehensive and Specialized Hospital. PloS one. 2021 Aug 20;16(8):0256102.

14.  Seid MA, Akalu Y, Gela YY, Belsti Y, Diress M, Fekadu SA, Dagnew B, Getnet M. Microvascular complications and its predictors among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients at Dessie town hospitals, Ethiopia. Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome. 2021 Dec;13(1):1-8.

15.  Belsti Y, Fekadu SA, Assem AS. Active trachoma prevalence and its associated factors among children aged 1-9 years in rural residents of Lare District, Southwest Ethiopia. International Journal of Ophthalmology. 2021;14(11):1756.

16.  Diress M, Belsti Y, Getnet M, Fekadu SA, Dagnew B, Akalu Y, Seid MA, Gela YY. Visual impairment and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care units at health institutions in Gondar City Administration, Northwest Ethiopia. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2021 Dec;21(1):1-9.

17.  Dagnew B, Diress M, Getnet M, Seid MA, Fekadu SA, Gela YY, Yeshaw Y, Belsti Y, Akalu Y. Predictors of dream enactment behavior among medical students: The case of the University of Gondar, Ethiopia. Plos one. 2022 Feb 25;17(2):e0263884

18.  Belsti Y, Abebaw A. Desta, Sofonias A. Fekadu: The pattern of sharp injuries and its associated factors among healthcare workers in Gambella town, Southwest Ethiopia: International Journal of Scientific Reports. 2021

19.  Tazebew Tilahun Alamneh, Shitahun Fente Tilahun, Melkamu Bedimo Beyne, Sofonias Addis Fekadu, Abel Sinshaw Assem, Selam Fisiha Kassa. Prevalence and Associated Factors of Anemia Among Newborns at Tibebe Ghion Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: International Journal of General Medicine 2022:15

20.  Gela, Y.Y., Fekadu, S.A., Belsti, Y., Akalu, Y., Dagnew, B., Getnet, M., Seid, M.A. and Diress, M., 2022. Cognitive impairment and associated factors among mature and older adults living in the community of Gondar town, Ethiopia, 2020. Scientific Reports, 12(1), pp.1-8.
    • September 2016 - July 2018: University of Gondar, college of medicine and health science department of optometry, MSc in Clinical Optometry.
    • September 2009- July 2013: University of Gondar College of Medicine and Health Sciences Department of Optometry, BSc in Optometry (bachelor’s degree)

  • Ethiopian Optometric Association, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  2019

  • 1.      University of New South Wales, Kensington, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    2.      University of Gondar, comprehensive specialized hospital, Gondar, Ethiopia