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September 2021

Latest Innovations and Future Directions in Optometry

From myopia control to IOLs, new technologies keep coming down the pike.

Jaclyn Garlich, OD, FAAO

Roya Habibi, OD, FAAO, FSLS

Jacob Lang, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO

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At A Glance

• New multifocal contact lens and spectacle technologies are additions to the more traditional methods available to address the worldwide growth in the prevalence of myopia.
• New topical drops, both prescription and over the counter, add to the optometric therapeutic arsenal.
• A recently approved systemic drug may change management patterns for thyroid eye disease.

We are seeing an exponential surge in new trends, technologies, and treatments in optometry and hope to inspire some further research by giving you a high-level introduction to some of the up-and-comers in eye care.

MYOPIA CONTROL

Myopia is an age-old topic, but what is new is the growing prevalence of myopia worldwide. In 2000, the prevalence of myopia in the world population was estimated to be 22.9%, and that figure is projected to rise to 49.8% by 2050. 1 There are multiple theories as to the cause of this growth, including increasing screen time and decreasing time spent outdoors among young people. Luckily, our evidenced-based and validated treatment options for myopia control are also steadily increasing.

Soft Contact Lenses

In 2020, the FDA approved MiSight 1 day (CooperVision) lenses (Figure 1), making them the first daily disposable soft contact lenses labeled for slowing the progression of myopia. Clinical studies found that MiSight 1 day lenses provided a 59% reduction in myopia progression in comparison with a single-vision 1-day lens, as measured by spherical equivalent, and a 52% reduction in mean axial elongation. 2

Click to view larger

Figure 1. The ActivControl technology in MiSight 1 day lenses uses an optic zone concentric ring design with alternating vision correction zones and treatment zones. Two zones are vision correction zones with the label power of the contact lens, and the alternating two zones are treatment zones with 2.00 D of defocus to slow the progression of myopia. (Image courtesy of CooperVision.)

Gas Permeable Contact Lenses

Orthokeratology (ortho-k) has been used at least since the 1960s in the management of myopia. The first rigid gas permeable lens for ortho-k, Paragon CRT (CooperVision Specialty EyeCare), received FDA approval in 2002, 3 and products and options have continued to grow since then. In May of this year, Johnson & Johnson Vision announced FDA approval of its Acuvue Abiliti Overnight Therapeutic Lenses for the management of myopia. 4 That same month, CooperVision announced that its Procornea DreamLite night lenses for ortho-k had received the CE Mark from European regulators for slowing the progression of myopia in children and young adults. 5 CooperVision also announced this year that it has begun offering 5-mm customization of the back optic zone diameter for increased efficacy for its Paragon CRT and CRT Dual-Axis lenses in myopia management strategies. 6

Many doctors have been prescribing atropine off-label for myopia control. Vyluma, a newly formed subsidiary of Nevakar, announced in May that the phase 3 CHAMP trial of its pharmaceutical atropine eye drop NVK002 is in late stages in the United States and Europe. 7 The drop has the potential to be an FDA-approved pharmacologic method for myopia control, the company suggested.

Spectacle Correction

Glasses don’t work for myopia control, right? Perhaps it’s time to think again.

Essilor announced in May that it has been granted breakthrough device designation by the FDA for its Stellest spectacle lens to correct and slow the progression of myopia. 8 Data from a pivotal clinical trial presented at this year’s Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting demonstrated that, at 2 years follow-up, Essilor’s highly aspheric lenslet target (HALT) technology, worn at least 12 hours per day, slowed myopia progression by 67% in comparison with single-vision lens wear. After 1 year in the ongoing 3-year trial, eye growth in children wearing the Stellest lenses was similar to or slower than that in nonmyopic children, according to Essilor. 9

Also in May, researchers at Hoya and the Centre for Myopia Research in Hong Kong published follow-up data on the company’s MiyoSmart spectacle lenses with patented defocus incorporated multiple segments (DIMS) technology, showing that wearing the DIMS lens slowed the progression of myopia by 52% and axial length growth by 62% at 2 years in comparison with single-vision lens wear. 10

CONTACT LENSES

In addition to the contact lenses for myopia control discussed above, a number of new conventional contact lens models have come to the market recently.

The silicone hydrogel material of the daily disposable Bausch + Lomb Infuse lens (Bausch + Lomb; Figure 2) is infused with a proprietary combination of ingredients designed to promote comfort, inspired by the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society’s DEWS II report, according to the company. 11 The infused ingredients include osmoprotectants and electrolytes to help maintain ocular surface homeostasis and moisturizers to help retain hydration and maintain tear proteins in a healthy state, the company states.

Figure 2. The Bausch + Lomb Infuse contact lens, a silicone hydrogel daily disposable, helps to address contact lens dryness, according to the company. (Image courtesy of Bausch + Lomb.)

Alcon added cylinder correction to its Precision1 one-day contact lenses for its toric Precision1 for Astigmatism line (Alcon). The lens settles in less than 60 seconds within 3° of ideal orientation and has a 99% first-fit success rate, according to the company. 12

Johnson & Johnson Vision introduced an upgrade to its Acuvue Oasys Multifocal Lens , now including a Pupil Optimized Design. The new design optimizes parameters for patient age and refraction, according to the company, improving performance and comfort. 13

We also now have a large selection of options for our astigmatic presbyopic patients, with Biofinity toric and Biofinity XR toric lenses (CooperVision) 14 and Bausch + Lomb Ultra Multifocal for Astigmatism lenses. 15

There are several innovations in the development pipeline aiming to use contact lens technology as a platform to achieve goals such as monitoring IOP, 16 displaying augmented reality, 17 and fostering corneal wound healing. 18

The high-concept contact lens technology that may be closest to reaching the US market is an antiallergy drug-eluting lens being developed by Johnson & Johnson Vision. Acuvue Theravision with Ketotifen (Figure 3)releases an H1 histamine receptor antagonist to reduce itching due to allergies and improve lens comfort. The device has received regulatory approval in Japan and Canada. 19

Figure 3. Acuvue Theravision with Ketotifen is a medication-releasing contact lens for patients in Japan and Canada who need vision correction and itchy eye relief. (Image courtesy of Johnson & Johnson Vision.)

We are lucky to be in a profession where there is continual innovation to allow us to better treat our patients. Let’s look at a few new eye drops—in addition to the myopia control drops discussed above—that have expanded our arsenal in the past 2 years.

In June, Santen received FDA approval for its formulation of cyclosporine 0.1% ophthalmic emulsion (Verkazia) for the treatment of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) in children and adults. 20 The formulation’s oil-in-water cationic emulsion provides improved ocular bioavailability of cyclosporine, according to the company. It works by inhibiting T-cell activation, which controls allergic response and inflammation. The drops can be used over a sustained period of time, which means that steroids can be reduced. Recommended dosage is four times daily, and the product is approved for use in children as young as 4 years.

The FDA approved loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension 0.25% ( Eysuvis , Kala Pharmaceuticals) for the short-term treatment of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease in October 2020. 21 It became the first ocular corticosteroid approved specifically for the treatment of dry eye disease and the first approved specifically for short-term (up to 2 weeks) treatment of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. The drop, dosed four times daily, uses the company’s proprietary mucus-penetrating particle drug delivery technology (Ampplify) to enhance bioavailability of the active ingredient at the target site, according to Kala.

Also approved last year was oxymetazoline HCl ophthalmic solution 0.1% ( Upneeq , RVL Pharmaceuticals), indicated for patients with acquired blepharoptosis who do not want to pursue surgical repair. 22 In two phase 3 trials, patients who received the drug once daily experienced statistically significant improvement in visual field compared to a placebo group (Figure 4). The drop is the only FDA-approved medical treatment for ptosis.

Figure 4. Examples of positive results after a first dose of oxymetazoline for blepharoptosis. (Image courtesy of RVL Pharmaceuticals.)

Itching for more over-the-counter (OTC) allergy drops? Alcon’s suite of products containing olopatadine is now available OTC: Pataday Once Daily Relief Extra Strength (formerly Pazeo), Pataday Once Daily Relief (formerly Pataday), and Pataday Twice Daily Relief (formerly Patanol). 23 Further expanding the shelf, in September 2020 the FDA approved ketotifen fumarate ophthalmic solution 0.035% antihistamine ( Alaway Preservative Free , Bausch + Lomb), which became the first OTC preservative-free eye drop formulation approved to relieve symptoms of allergy. 24

Reproxalap ophthalmic solution 0.25% (Aldeyra Therapeutics) is a RASP inhibitor, which could be the next category of antiinflammatory medications in eye care. 25-27 It targets early, upstream proinflammatory signaling cascades and is showing promise in several ocular conditions such as dry eye, allergic conjunctivitis, and uveitis.

SYSTEMIC DRUG

In January 2020, teprotumumab-trbw ( Tepezza , Horizon Therapeutics) became the first drug FDA-approved for the treatment of thyroid eye disease (TED). 28 Teprotumumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody and a targeted inhibitor of the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor. In a phase 3 clinical trial, teprotumumab was shown to improve proptosis, diplopia, and quality of life in patients with TED. 29 This finding puts to rest the watch-and-wait mentality traditionally applied to patients with TED.

There may also be applications for this new drug in patients with long-standing, chronic TED. 30 This is an excellent example of a situation in which optometry must have an open mind to incorporate new therapeutics. It is crucial that we stay ever-vigilant to detecting ocular conditions early in the disease state, knowing that we are in many cases the gate-keepers and primary care physicians of eye care.

PRESBYOPIA DROPS … SOON?

The race for an FDA approval of a topical presbyopia treatment is on, and Allergan appears to be in the lead. The company in February submitted a new drug application to the FDA for its investigational eye drop, AGN-190584, for the treatment of presbyopia, and the FDA is expected to act on the application by the end of this year. 31 The drop is an optimized formulation of pilocarpine 1.25% delivered in a proprietary vehicle. It is administered once daily, and the proposed mechanism of action is through contraction of the iris sphincter muscle to enhance depth of focus and improve near and intermediate visual acuity while maintaining some pupillary response to light. AGN-190584 also contracts the ciliary muscle to facilitate accommodation, according to the company.

But Allergan is not alone. Many companies are in hot pursuit of their own presbyopia treatment drops. Others rising to the challenge include: Eyenovia, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Ocuphire Pharma, Orasis Pharmaceuticals, OSRX Pharmaceuticals, Lenz Therapeutics (formerly Presbyopia Therapies), and Visus Therapeutics. For a recent review, see “ Answering the Call of Presbyopic Patients ” by Selina R. McGee, OD, FAAO, and Melissa Barnett, OD, FAAO, FSLS, FBCLA, from the January/February 2021 issue of Modern Optometry .

Cataract surgery is increasingly becoming an opportunity to enhance patients’ vision and treat other ocular pathologies. Multifocal IOL technologies continue to evolve and improve with new options to match the visual demands of patients. The biggest trend seems to be toward lenses that provide improvement at intermediate distances but not enough power for clear vision at the typical near working distance. By giving up the hard near focus of more traditional multifocal IOLs, it appears that these extended range of vision lenses can avoid some of the glare and halos occasionally experienced with full-range multifocal options.

The Acrysof IQ Vivity (Alcon; Figure 5), introduced in January and described by the company not as a multifocal but rather as a “nondiffractive extended depth of focus IOL,” is an example of this type of lens option. In clinical trials of the lens, 94% of patients reported having good or very good vision at distance, and 92% reported having good or very good vision at arm’s length. Starbursts, halos, and glare were comparable to those experienced with a monofocal lens. 32

Figure 5. The AcrySof IQ Vivity IOL uses Alcon’s proprietary non-diffractive X-Wave technology to stretch and shift light without splitting it. (Image courtesy of Alcon.)

A novel implantable technology that may indicate the shape of things to come is the R-TASC smart active IOL (Swiss Advanced Vision; Figure 6). If this development program comes to fruition, it could produce the world’s first active electronic IOL implant. The company’s aim is to develop a smart, real-time autofocus, solar-powered, multifocal IOL. The autofocus system would detect the distance of objects and trigger the transfer of liquid in or out of the lens optic, modifying the power of the IOL. The company’s website gives no indication of the phase of development. 33

Figure 6. The high-concept R-TASC IOL would be equipped with an autofocus system that detects the distance of objects. (Image courtesy of Swiss Advanced Vision.)

A PROFESSION RIPE WITH INNOVATION

With the products discussed here and additional releases sure to come in the near future, we have many new treatments and technologies to offer our patients, and we can look forward to more. Look for information in upcoming issues of Modern Optometry to help you embrace this bright future.

• 1. Holden BA, Fricke TR, Wilson DA, et al. Global prevalence of myopia and high myopia and temporal trends from 2000 through 2050. Ophthalmology . 2016;123(5):1036-1042.
• 2. Our products. MiSight 1 day. CooperVision. coopervision.com/practitioner/our-products/misight-1-day/misight-1-day. Accessed August 4, 2021.
• 3. Premarket Approval. Paragon CRT. Food and Drug Administration. June 13, 2002. www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpma/pma.cfm?id=P870024S043. Accessed August 5, 2021.
• 4. Johnson & Johnson Vision announces FDA approval of Acuvue Abiliti Overnight Therapeutic Lenses for myopia management. Eyewire News. May 12, 2021. eyewire.news/articles/johnson-johnson-vision-announces-fda-approval-of-acuvue-abiliti-overnight-therapeutic-lenses-for-myopia-management/. Accessed August 5, 2021.
• 5. CooperVision DreamLite® Ortho-K lenses gain European approval for slowing progression of myopia [press release]. CooperVision Specialty EyeCare. May 25, 2021. coopervision.com/our-company/news-center/press-release/coopervision-dreamlite-ortho-k-lenses-gain-european-approval. Accessed August 5, 2021.
• 6. CooperVision Specialty EyeCare announces 5 mm BOZD customization for Paragon CRT® and CRT Dual Axis® Lenses [press release]. CooperVision Specialty EyeCare. January 19, 2021. coopervision.com/our-company/news-center/press-release/coopervision-specialty-eyecare-announces-5-mm-bozd. Accessed August 5, 2021.
• 7. Vyluma Inc. launches with robust ophthalmic portfolio, leading with a pharmaceutical treatment in phase III for myopia [press release]. Vyluma. May 25, 2021. vyluma.com/press_release/vyluma-inc-launches-with-robust-ophthalmic-portfolio-leading-with-a-pharmaceutical-treatment-in-phase-iii-for-myopia/. Accessed August 5, 2021.
• 8. Essilor receives FDA “breakthrough device” designation for Essilor Stellest, its new generation of spectacle lens solutions in the fight against myopia [press release]. Essilor. May 17, 2021. www.essilor.com/en/medias/press-releases/essilor-receives-fda-breakthrough-device-designation-for-essilor-stellest-its-new-generation-of-spectacle-lens-solutions-in-the-fight-against-myopia/. Accessed August 5, 2021.
• 9. New results on Essilor Stellest lens to be presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO 2021) [press release]. Essilor. April 4, 2021. www.essilor.com/en/medias/press-releases/new-results-on-essilor-stellest-lens-to-be-presented-at-the-annual-meeting-of-the-association-for-research-in-vision-and-ophthalmology-arvo-2021/. Accessed August 5, 2021.
• 10. Lam CSY, Tang WC, Tse DY, et al. Defocus incorporated multiple segments (DIMS) spectacle lenses slow myopia progression: a 2-year randomised clinical trial. Br J Ophthalmol . 2020;104(3):363-368.
• 11. Bausch + Lomb Infuse. www.bauschinfuse.com/ecp/. Accessed August 5, 2021.
• 12. MyAlcon Professionals. Precision1 for Astigmatism. professional.myalcon.com/contact-lenses/daily/precision-astigmatism/. Accessed August 5, 2021.
• 13. Acuvue Oasys Multifocal With Pupil Optimized Design. Johnson & Johnson Vision. www.jnjvisionpro.com/products/acuvue-oasys-multifocal#product_information. Accessed August 5, 2021.
• 14. Biofinity toric and Biofinity XR toric. CooperVision. coopervision.com/practitioner/our-products/biofinity-family/biofinity-toric-biofinity-xr-toric. Accessed August 5, 2021.
• 15. Bausch + Lomb Ultra contact lenses. Bausch + Lomb. www.expectultracomfort.com/ecp/lens-parameters. Accessed August 5, 2021.
• 16. Smart contact lenses have potential to monitor, treat glaucoma. Cleveland Clinic. Consult QD. September 9, 2020. consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/smart-contact-lenses-have-potential-to-monitor-treat-glaucoma/. Accessed August 5, 2021.
• 17. AR contact lens wins CES’ Last Gadget Standing competition. Las Vegas Review-Journal. January 12, 2021. www.reviewjournal.com/business/conventions/ces/ar-contact-lens-wins-ces-last-gadget-standing-competition-2251189/. Accessed August 5, 2021.
• 18. UNH researchers create a hydrogel contact lens to treat serious eye disease. University of New Hampshire Newsroom. March 12, 2019. www.unh.edu/unhtoday/news/release/2019/03/12/unh-researchers-create-hydrogel-contact-lens-treat-serious-eye-disease. Accessed August 5, 2021.
• 19. Johnson & Johnson Vision receives approval in Canada for first drug-releasing contact lens for vision correction and allergic eye itch. Eyewire News. April 27, 2021. eyewire.news/articles/johnson-johnson-vision-receives-approval-in-canada-for-first-drug-releasing-contact-lens-for-vision-correction-and-allergic-eye-itch/. Accessed August 5, 2021.
• 20. Santen receives FDA approval for Verkazia (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) 0.1% for the treatment of vernal keratoconjunctivitis in children and adults [press release]. Santen. June 24, 2021. www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210624005365/en/Santen-Receives-FDA-Approval-for-Verkazia%E2%84%A2-Cyclosporine-Ophthalmic-Emulsion-0.1-for-the-Treatment-of-Vernal-Keratoconjunctivitis-in-Children-and-Adults. Accessed August 5, 2021.
• 21. Kala Pharmaceuticals receives FDA approval of dry eye disease treatment Eysuvis. Eyewire News. October 20, 2020. eyewire.news/articles/kala-pharmaceuticals-announces-fda-approval-of-dry-eye-disease-treatment-eysuvis/#:~:text=The%20FDA%20on%20Tuesday%20approved,symptoms%20of%20dry%20eye%20disease. Accessed August 5, 2021.
• 22. Osmotica Pharmaceuticals plc receives FDA approval for Upneeq (oxymetazoline hydrochloride ophthalmic solution), 0.1% for acquired blepharoptosis (droopy eyelid) in adults [press release]. Osmotica Pharmaceuticals. July 9, 2020. ir.osmotica.com/news-releases/news-release-details/osmotica-pharmaceuticals-plc-receives-fda-approval-upneeqtm. Accessed August 5, 2021.
• 23. Pataday Once Daily Relief Extra Strength. Now available without a prescription. MyAlconProfessionals. https://professional.myalcon.com/eye-care/ocular-allergies/pataday/. Accessed August 5, 2021.
• 24. FDA approves Bausch + Lomb Alaway Preservative Free OTC drops. Eyewire News. September 25, 2020. eyewire.news/articles/fda-approves-bausch-lomb-alaway-preservative-free-ophthalmic-solution/. Accessed August 5, 2021.
• 25. Mandell KJ, Clark D, Chu DS, Foster CS, Sheppard J, Brady TC. Randomized phase 2 trial of reproxalap, a novel reactive aldehyde species inhibitor, in patients with noninfectious naterior uveitis: model for corticosteroid replacement. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther . 2020;36(10):732-739.
• 26. Clark D, Cavanagh B, Shields AL, Karpecki P, Sheppard J, Brady TC. Clinically relevant activity of the novel RASP inhibitor reproxalap in allergic conjunctivitis: the phase 3 ALLEVIATE trial. Am J Ophthalmol . 2021;230:60-67.
• 27. Clark D, Tauber J, Shepard J, Brady TC. Early onset and broad activity of reproxalap in a randomized, double-masked, vehicle-controlled phase 2b trial in dry eye disease. Am J Ophthalmol . 2021;226:22-31.
• 28. FDA approves first treatment for thyroid eye disease [press release]. Food and Drug Administration. January 21, 2020. www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-treatment-thyroid-eye-disease. Accessed August 5, 2021.
• 29. Douglas RS, Kahaly GJ, Patel A, et al. Teprotumumab for the treatment of active thyroid eye disease. N Engl J Med . 2020;382(4):341-352.
• 30. Ozzello DJ, Kikkawa DO, Korn BS. Early experience with teprotumumab for chronic thyroid eye disease. Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep . 2020;19:100744. Published 2020 May 15.
• 31. Allergan, an AbbVie Company, submits new drug application for investigational AGN-190584 for the treatment of presbyopia [press release]. Allergan. February 25, 2021. news.abbvie.com/news/press-releases/allergan-an-abbvie-company-submits-new-drug-application-for-investigational-agn-190584-for-treatment-presbyopia.htm. Accessed August 5, 2021.
• 32. Alcon announces launch of AcrySof IQ Vivity, the first and only non-diffractive extended depth of focus intraocular lens in the U.S [press release]. Alcon. January 7, 2021. www.alcon.com/media-release/alcon-announces-launch-acrysof-iq-vivity-first-and-only-non-diffractive-extended. Accessed August 9, 2021.
• 33. R-TASC Smart Active Intraocular Lens for Cataract Surgery. Swiss Advanced Vision Intraocular Lens. sav-iol.com/r-tasc/. Accessed August 9, 2021.

Owner, Envision Optometry, Boston Editor and Founder, 20/20 Glance Member, Modern Optometry Editorial Advisory Board [email protected]; Instagram: @2020glance, @envisionboston Financial disclosure: Speaker/Advisor (Allergan, Dompe, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Orasis Pharmaceuticals, Tarsus, Zeiss)

Associate Optometrist, Eye Associates Northwest, Seattle [email protected]; Instagram: @rnhabibi Financial disclosure: None

Lead Optometrist, Associated Eye Care, Stillwater, Minnesota Member, Modern Optometry Editorial Advisory Board [email protected]; Instagram: @seeoneteachone Financial disclosure: Speaker/Advisor (Allergan, Avellino, Horizon Therapeutics, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Orasis Pharmaceuticals, Scope Eyecare, Sun Pharma, AOS)

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Vision is one of our most valuable senses. At UC Berkeley’s Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science, world-renowned faculty are exploring a rich array of research questions relating to how we see and why vision fails. The answers have the potential to change lives. Please use the buttons below to explore research degree programs and opportunities at Berkeley Optometry & Vision Science.

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Our goals are to explore new models and strategies for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of ocular anomalies by conducting patient-based clinical studies/trials, as well as translational research. We also provide training for young professionals who are interested in, or want to pursue careers in, clinical research. We welcome undergraduates, optometry students, and post-doctoral fellows to become involved with our research team. The availability of these positions is dependent on our active projects.

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We offer current OD students a summer research training program funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI), as well as an option to graduate with honors for students who choose to submit a research dissertation or a scholarly case report.

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The full spectrum of biomedical research ranges from basic laboratory discoveries to clinical applications and public health policy. Eye and vision research programs at schools and colleges of optometry span the entire range of translational research possibilities—from the fundamental basis and mechanisms of vision, to eye diseases, their diagnosis and treatment, and the impact of public health policies on our communities.

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College of Optometry

Clinical and translational research.

Area of Research

Visual optics, ocular aberrations, cataract, refractive surgery, early disease detection.

Raymond A. Applegate, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO

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Dr. Applegate is Professor Emeritus in Vision Science. Since retiring from full-time service in early 2022, Dr. Applegate is continuing his research and teaching as part-time faculty.  

Dr. Applegate obtained his OD (1975) and MS (1976) from Indiana University. He practiced optometry briefly in Galesburg, IL before continuing his graduate education at UC, Berkeley where he received his PhD (1983) under Anthony (Tony) Adams.  He joined the University of Texas Health Science Center faculty in 1988 from the School of Optometry University of Missouri – St. Louis where he served as an assistant professor of optometry. He rose through the faculty ranks quickly to become a tenured professor of ophthalmology in 1993. In 2002, Dr. Applegate accepted the College of Optometry, at the University of Houston’s offer to become the first Endowed Borish Chair in Optometry (2002=2021). He has served as a feature editor of Journal of the Optical Society of America –A, Applied Optics, and on the editorial boards of Optometry and Vision Science, the Journal of Refractive Surgery, the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and currently serves on the editorial board of Clinical and Experimental Optometry. He served the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology as chair of the Annual Meeting Program Committee for the Vision Science Section, as well as the Board of Trustees representing the Visual Science Section and Vice-president of ARVO.  He is a cofounder of the International Congress on Wavefront Sensing and Aberration-Free Refraction Correction, is widely published in leading journals, consultant, and international lecturer whose NIH funded research interests center on the optics of the eye, visual image quality, as well as, early ocular disease detection, treatment, and prevention. 

Clinical research - biostatistics

Julia Benoit, Ph.D.

• [email protected]
• 832-842-7014

Dr. Benoit is a Research Associate Professor.  She joined the faculty at the University’s College of Optometry in 2014 and also holds a faculty position at the Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics at the University of Houston. She earned her PhD in Biostatistics with a concentration in Epidemiology from the University of Texas Health Science Center-School of Public Health in Houston.  There, she worked within the coordinating center for clinical trials and her graduate work was in the development of statistical methodology on hidden longitudinal processes to study indirectly observable disease processes. Dr. Benoit has expertise in study design and advanced analytics, with >10 years of experience collaborating on multidisciplinary research projects with clinical and research faculty alike.   

contact lens designs and materials, effects on the ocular surface, ocular histopathology

Jan P. Bergmanson, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO

• [email protected]
• 713-743-1950

Jan PG Bergmanson, OD, PhD, PhD h.c., DSc, is the Brien A. Holden Professor of Optometry at University of Houston College of Optometry, founding Director of the Texas Eye Research and Technology Center, is licensed in Texas as a Therapeutic Optometrist and an Optometric Glaucoma Specialist. He is a Fellow of American Academy of Optometry (AAO), where he is a Diplomate in the Cornea, Contact Lens and Refractive Technologies Section and a Fellow of the Scleral Lens Education Society. He is a Lifetime Honorary Member of the Swedish and Dutch Optometric Associations, was elected 2013 to Life Fellowship of The College of Optometrists, United Kingdom. Awards received include British Contact Lens Association’s Gold Medal (1998), Texas Optometric Association’s Educator of the Year Award (2002), AAO Max Schapero Lecture Award (2006), 2014 American Optometric Association Legend Award, IACLE America’s Contact Lens Educator of the Year Award (2017), 2018 Joseph Dallos Award presented by Contact Lens Manufacturers Association and 2019 Pioneer Excellence Award by International Summit of Specialty Contact Lenses. Scholarship encompasses over 160 clinical and scientific publications, 9 chapters in texts, one book, now in its 29th edition and one patent.

myopia, contact lenses, and aberrations of the eye, clinical research

David A. Berntsen, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO

• [email protected]
• 713-743-5836

David A. Berntsen, OD PhD is an Associate Professor and the Golden-Golden Professor of Optometry at the University of Houston College of Optometry where he teaches in the graduate and professional programs. He is the Chair of the Department of Clinical Sciences and conducts research on myopia, contact lenses, visual performance, and aberrations of the eye. He completed his Doctor of Optometry degree at the University of Houston and a Cornea and Contact Lens Advanced Practice Fellowship, MS, and PhD at The Ohio State University. He conducted the Study of Theories about Myopia Progression (STAMP), a two-year clinical trial evaluating theories of juvenile-onset myopia progression, and is the Principal Investigator of the University of Houston clinical site for the Bifocal Lenses In Nearsighted Kids (BLINK) Study and the BLINK2 Study, a multicenter study sponsored by the National Eye Institute evaluating contact lenses for myopia control. Dr. Berntsen serves on the American Academy of Optometry’s Scientific Program Committee. 

Moriah Chandler, O.D., FAAO

• [email protected]
• 713-743-0215

Noninvasive functional and structural evaluation of the visual pathways under normal and pathological conditions

Han Cheng, O.D., Ph.D.

• [email protected]
• 713-743-2580

Dr. Cheng earned both her PhD and OD degrees from the University of Houston, College of Optometry. After graduation, she became an associate in a private practice at Sugarland, Texas. She joined the MacGregor Medical Association in 1999 and practiced optometry there until she became a faculty member at the UH College of Optometry in 2002.

Amber Gaume, O.D., FAAO

• [email protected]
• 713-743-1935

Dr. Gaume Giannoni is a 2001 graduate of the University of Houston College of Optometry (UHCO), where she also completed a Fellowship in Cornea and Contact Lens Research with the Texas Eye Research and Technology Center. She is currently a Clinical Professor at UHCO and is the Director of the Dry Eye Center at the University Eye Institute. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, she recently added the role of Director of Infectious Disease for the College.

Dr. Gaume Giannoni teaches in all aspects of the optometry program, including the didactic curriculum, clinical laboratories, and direct patient care, and is a clinical examiner in the NEI-sponsored BLINK2 study (Bifocal Lenses in Near Sighted Kids).  She has received numerous teaching awards, including the prestigious UH System’s Provost Award for Teaching Excellence (2015), the Women’s Gender Resource Center Distinguished Clinical Faculty Award (2016), the Cora and J. Davis Armistead Teaching Excellence Award (2017) and ten “Outstanding UHCO Faculty” Awards, determined by the student body.   

She is a Stage III Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. She serves on the Editorial Boards for Advanced Ocular Care and the Journal for Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Disease and has been the co-editor for Ocular Surface News   and a columnist for Contact Lens Spectrum since 2008.   

Anita Gostovic, O.D., M.S., FAAO

• [email protected]
• 713-743-3595

Dr. Anita Ticak received her combined O.D./M.S. degrees from Ohio State College of Optometry (OSU) in 2008 and completed a Residency in Cornea and Contact Lens at the University of Houston College of Optometry the following year. She is a Clinical Associate Professor devoting her time between didactic teaching, clinical teaching, and translational clinical research. Didactically, she is the course master of two courses that directly target transition of student classroom education into clinical application (Clinical Integration and Contact Lens Theory II). Clinically she is the co-founder and an attending faculty in the Dry Eye Service and is the interim Director of the Cornea Contact Lens Service. Dr. Ticak has a passion for evidence-based practice and prioritizes research that can help answer questions and optimize care to her patients. Her previous research was set in the VOI Lab creating custom wavefront-guided scleral lens solutions for the keratoconic population and for the last 7 years she has been the primary clinical examiner for the BLINK studies which focus on myopia management for children.

Dr. Ticak is certified in Texas as an Optometric therapeutic and Glaucoma Specialist and is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. Dr. Ticak is also the appointed student faculty liaison for the American Academy of Optometry for the University of Houston. She serves as a Topical Associate Editor for Optometry and Vision Science (OVS), and a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Disease (JDEOSD).

Structural and functional changes in diabetic eye disease

Wendy Harrison, OD., Ph.D., FAAO

• [email protected]
• 713-743-6527

Dr. Wendy Harrison completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at the University of Notre Dame and went on to be the first student to complete a joint OD and MS in Vision Science at Indiana University in four years. Following a residency in Cornea and Contact Lenses, also at Indiana, she completed PhD in Vision Science at the University of California Berkeley. She is currently an associate professor at the University of Houston College of Optometry. Her research focuses on diabetic eye diseases and prediabetes and she runs the electrodiagnostic testing in the clinic. She is a member of ARVO, and a fellow in the American Academy of Optometry. Within the Academy she is the current President of the American Academy of Optometry Foundation and part of the leadership of Fellows Doing Research.

Anna-Kaye Logan, O.D., FAAO

• [email protected]
• 713-743-0384

Dr. Logan received her Bachelor of Science in Health degree magna cum laude from the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida. She then graduated from Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida where she completed her Doctor of Optometry degree with Honors and Professional Distinction. She subsequently completed a residency in Cornea and Contact Lenses at the University of Houston College of Optometry (UHCO). Currently, she is a Clinical Assistant Professor at UHCO and is a clinical attending in the Cornea and Contact Lens Service including the Myopia Management Service. Dr. Logan is the Residency Program Coordinator for the Cornea and Contact Lenses Residency. 

Development of vision, Anomalies of Binocular Vision, Refractive Error, and Vision Screening  Clinical research

Ruth Manny, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO

• [email protected]
• 713-743-1944

Dr. Manny received her OD, MS and PhD from the University of Houston, College of Optometry. While earning her graduate degrees she worked part-time in a private practice in Clear Lake, TX. Her clinical expertise is pediatric eye care with an emphasis on infants and preschoolers and those with differing abilities. She has served as the principal investigator for a variety of multi-center studies funded by the National Eye Institute and industry. These studies included clinical trials investigating the development, progression and treatment strategies for myopia (COMET, COMET2, ACHIEVE, CLIP), large collaborative observational studies of myopia (CLEERE, COSMICC), and collaborations with the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group (PEDIG) on treatment strategies for amblyopia and strabismus. She has served on the PEDIG executive committee and as Vice Chair. Additional interests include improving methods to identify young children with or at risk for vision problems. She has served as Chair of the Clinical Science department, and Service Director for the Pediatric Specialty Clinic. Dr. Manny has been on the editorial board of Optometry and Vision Science and served as a topical editor for the journal. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, and the Association for Research in Vision in Ophthalmology and is active in shared governance through the faculty senate serving on the executive committee and many senate committees. 

Optical aberration of the eye, custom and pseudo-custom correction of optical aberration, visual performance, metrics predictive of visual performance.

Jason Marsack, Ph.D., FAAO

• [email protected]
• 713-743-0661

I am a scientist/ engineer with a strong interest in applied and translational research.  My laboratory focuses on developing and translating optical correction strategies for eyes with poor visual quality (keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration, Down syndrome) to the clinical environment and investigating the relationship between optical quality and visual performance.  I teach geometric optics to students in the optometry professional program, advanced optical topics to students in the physiological optics program at The University of Houston College of Optometry and mentor students seeking the M.S. and/or Ph.D. degrees

Cherlyn J. Ng, Ph.D.

• [email protected]
• 713-743-8253

Cherlyn Ng was born and raised in Singapore, where she went on to earn her BSc in neuroscience and PhD in x-ray crystallography from the National University of Singapore. Drawing upon her earlier experiences with audio/visual production, she received postdoctoral training in computational modeling, psychophysics and developed a deep interest in visual perception. Her current interests focuses on how the brain processes and represents sensory information, with particular emphasis on binocular vision. However, traditional psychophysics does not distinguish between percepts that arise from neural mechanisms and visual limitations that are caused by the imperfect optics of the eyes. She addresses this conundrum by coupling psychophysics with adaptive optics technology. This method minimizes optical limitations by correcting for the optical aberrations in the eyes so that percepts brought about by the neural mechanisms can be measured in isolation. These measurements serve the eventual purpose of building a unified model that explains how the brain chooses between selecting and balancing information from the two eyes. 

Myopia, circadian rythms and eye growth nvironmental and behavioral influences on circadian rhythm and eye growth.

Lisa Ostrin, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO

• [email protected]
• 713-743-2782

Dr. Ostrin is an Associate Professor at the University of Houston College of Optometry. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Arts at the University of Texas at Austin. She then completed the combined OD/PhD program at the University of Houston College of Optometry. Following graduate work focused in accommodative physiology, she went to John Hopkins University for post-doctoral research in low vision and retinal prosthetics. From there, she worked as a Clinician Researcher at the University of California Berkeley School of Optometry, with a focus on myopia and associations with glaucoma. She returned to the University of Houston as faculty to continue her work in myopia and circadian rhythms. In addition to research, Dr. Ostrin teaches gross and ocular anatomy, and has authored a book, Anatomy of the Human Eye: a Coloring Atlas. Dr. Ostrin is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, Gold Fellow of ARVO, and a recipient of the American Optometric Foundation Ezell Fellowship. 

Optical coherence tomography, structure-function relationships in glaucoma, algorithm development for early detection of optic nerve pathology

Nimesh Patel, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO

• [email protected]
• 713-743-6125

Dr. Patel graduated from the Southern College of Optometry, Memphis Tennessee in 2002, after which he completed a residency in Family Practice at Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry. He completed his graduate work at the University of Houston, earning a PhD in 2012, and has been on the faculty since. His current research is on improving structural measures of the optic nerve head, retinal nerve fiber layer and macula regions using optical coherence tomography, and investigating the relationship between these structural measures and visual function. He also teaches students in the classroom, laboratory and clinical settings. 

Maureen Plaumann, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO

• [email protected]
• 713-743-4223

Dr. Plaumann received her Doctor of Optometry degree in 2015 from the Southern California College of Optometry after earning her B.S. in Anthropology from the University of California, Los Angeles. She then completed a residency in Pediatric Optometry and Vision Therapy at the Southern California College of Optometry in 2016. Dr. Plaumann is completing her Ph.D. at Ohio State University. Her dissertation work with her advisor, Dr. Teng Leng Ooi, focuses on adult amblyopia, analyzing fixation patterns and developing translational measures of interocular suppression with the goal of one day developing better treatments for the condition. Dr. Plaumann attends in the Binocular Vision and Pediatrics, Vision Therapy, and Primary Vision Care services of the clinic. Dr. Plaumann is the 2021 Danne Ventura/Essilor Ezell Fellow and the 2019 Baycross Christian Family Foundation Binocular Vision & Pediatrics Ezell Fellow. She is also the recipient of a NIH loan repayment program and research fellowship. Dr. Plaumann joins the department of Clinical Sciences as an Assistant Professor.

imaging retinal and optic nerve head structures and vasculature in normal and glaucomatous eyes, as well as in eyes with color vision deficiencies and retinal disease.

Jason Porter, Ph.D., FAAO, FARVO

• [email protected]
• 713-743-1806

Dr. Jason Porter is an Associate Professor in Physiological Optics and Vision Science and in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Houston. He earned his BS, MS, and PhD in Optics from the University of Rochester’s Institute of Optics. As a graduate student and postdoctoral fellow with David Williams, he worked in the areas of ocular aberration measurement, customized correction, and high-resolution retinal imaging using adaptive optics. During this time, he was lead editor for the book entitled, “Adaptive Optics for Vision Science,” a collaborative work that describes the principles and practices of adaptive optics in vision science.  

At the College of Optometry, Dr. Porter’s laboratory investigates mechanisms responsible for the development and progression of neuro-ophthalmic and retinal-related conditions (including glaucoma, traumatic brain injury / concussion, and inherited retinal degenerations). Recent work has also examined how foveal structure changes during normal development and in myopia. Dr. Porter’s laboratory has built an adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscope to noninvasively image and monitor normal and diseased retinal structure on a cellular level in the same eyes over time. These experiments are often complimented with the use of clinical imaging techniques and visual function examinations to investigate structure-function relationships. The laboratory also conducts engineering research, often to facilitate its scientific goals, in areas such as optimizing methods of adaptive optics control and developing neural networks to automatically segment perfused retinal vasculature.  

ocular surface inflammation/infection, the impact of contact lenses (e.g. scleral gas permeable lenses) on normal and diseased eyes

Rachel Redfern, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO

• [email protected]
• 713-743-1943

Rachel Redfern received her bachelor's degree in biology from Texas A&M University and then her OD/PhD from the University of Houston, College of Optometry. In 2006, Dr. Redfern received the Institutional Ruth Kirschstein National Research Post-doctorate Award and the ARVO/Alcon Early Career Clinician-Scientist Research Award. Dr. Redfern is a member of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the American Academy of Optometry and the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society. She is also a past William C. Ezell Fellow.

Her laboratory is interested in ocular surface inflammation/infection, the impact of contact lenses (e.g. scleral gas permeable lenses) on normal and diseased eyes and the functional and anatomical changes that occurs in the meibomian glands with age and disease. They perform human subject, animal and in vitro studies. Dr. Redfern’s laboratory is NIH funded to examine the impact of toll-like receptors on the production of damaging cytokines and matrix metalloproteases and beneficial antimicrobial peptides on the ocular surface.

Contact lens, Meibomian gland disease and treatments.

Eric Ritchey, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO

• [email protected]
• 713-743-1933

Eric Ritchey, OD, PhD, FAAO is a 2001 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Optometry. After graduation, Eric completed a 2-year Advanced Practice Fellowship in Cornea and Contact Lenses at Ohio State, where his research focused on overnight orthokeratology and extended wear contact lenses. Following fellowship, Eric served as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri-Saint Louis College of Optometry before beginning his PhD training at Ohio State. During his PhD training, Eric’s research in the laboratory of Dr. Andy Fischer focused on the mechanisms behind refractive error development. After completing the PhD, Eric joined Johnson and Johnson Vision Care as a Principal Research Optometrist in the Emerging Technologies Group, where he worked on contact lens technologies to control myopia progression. After 4 years in industry, Eric decided to return to academia and will teach Ophthalmic Optics to 2 nd  year optometry students. Eric’s clinical interests are in specialty contact lens fitting, anterior segment disease and ocular prosthetics. His research activities will focus on myopia development and contact lenses.

high resolution imaging, retinal vascular remodeling in diabetes and aging

Kaitlyn Sapoznik, O.D., Ph.D.

• [email protected]
• 713-743-7936

Dr. Kaitlyn A. Sapoznik received her Doctor of Optometry from Illinois College of Optometry in 2013 and then completed a one-year ocular disease residency at Indiana University School of Optometry in Bloomington, IN. Following her residency, she completed her Ph.D. in Vision Science at Indiana University. Her research uses high-resolution retinal imaging techniques like adaptive optics retinal imaging to better understand retinal microvascular remodeling in aging and disease with an emphasis on diabetic retinopathy. Dr. Sapoznik was awarded the Vision Impact Institute Ezell Fellowship for two-consecutive years.

Deep learning, clinical informatics, ocular imaging, glaucoma, and corneal biomechanics

Michael D. Twa, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO

• [email protected]
• 713-743-9967

Dr. Twa is a clinician scientist and Dean of the University of Houston College of Optometry since June 1, 2019. He previously served as a faculty member at the college from 2007 to 2014. From 2014 to 2019, Dr. Twa served as the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry. His undergraduate training in biology was completed at UC San Diego and his clinical doctoral training in optometry was completed at UC Berkeley. He practiced for more than 10 years in the department of ophthalmology at UC San Diego before pursuing a Ph.D. in machine learning, data sciences, and biomedical image analysis at the Ohio State University. Dr. Twa is also the Editor in Chief of Optometry and Vision Science .  

Anterior segment physiology, scleral contact lens complications, and contact lens optics - specifically for presbyopia and myopia control modalities.

Maria Walker, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO

• [email protected]
• 713-743-6421

Maria K Walker, OD, PhD is a clinician scientist who specializes in anterior segment inflammatory diseases and specialty contact lenses. She graduated with an OD/MS degree from The New England College of Optometry (NECO) in 2013 and went on to complete a one-year Cornea & Contact Lens Residency at Pacific University in Portland, OR. She came to UHCO as an Assistant Professor in 2014 and in 2021 completed a PhD in Physiological Optics with a dissertation entitled: “The Impact of a Scleral Lens on the Eye”. Throughout her education and early career, Maria has won several merit-based awards including the VSP student clinical excellent award (2013), the Sheldon Wechsler contact lens residency award (2014), the Founders’ Grant from the International Society of Contact Lens Specialists (2017), as well as two Ezell fellowships in 2017 and 2018 and the Minnie Turner Award for Vision Researchers in 2019. She is an active Fellow in the American Academy of Optometry, a Fellow and a Past President of the Scleral Lens Education Society, as well as an advisory board member of the Gas Permeable Lens Institute. Maria is currently a tenure-tracked Assistant Professor at UHCO, and the Walker lab is focused on studying the role of immune cells in inflammatory diseases of the cornea and tear film (i.e., keratoconus), as well as the impact of a scleral lens on the eye in diseased and normal eyes.

Optical quality of the eye and to improve visual performance by correcting the optical defects in the eye

Geunyoung Yoon, Ph.D

• [email protected]
• 713-743-7860

Dr. Geunyoung Yoon is currently appointed as the Irvin M. Borish Chair Professor at the University of Houston College of Optometry. He previously served as a faculty at the University of Rochester. His laboratory’s overarching research goal is to enhance our understanding of optical and neural mechanisms underlying vision and eye problems by conducting human-based translational research. To achieve this goal, his laboratory has been developing various state-of-the-art technology including advanced ocular aberrometers, wavefront-guided vision correction methods, binocular adaptive optics visual simulator, and in-vivo cornea/anterior segment imaging modalities. These capabilities have been used for studying mechanistic interactions between the optics of the eye and the neural system, vision improvement for patients with corneal pathologies, diagnosis and treatment of corneal diseases, presbyopia correction, and myopia development/control. Dr. Yoon’s laboratory is funded by NIH, other non-profit funding agencies, and the industry. He is a recipient of the Dolly Green Special Scholars Award, Research to Prevent Blindness, and David E. Bryant Trust Research Award. He is a panel member for the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health and serves as a member of the Editorial Boards of Frontiers in Ophthalmology, Annals of Optometry and Contact Lenses, and Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society.

Visit Dr. Yoon's Lab Website

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• v.4(4); 2011 Oct

Research in Optometry: A challenge and a chance

Investigación en optometría: un reto y una oportunidad.

In the last years, the number of optometrists publishing research works in journals with high impact factor has increased significantly. However, this increase in the quantity of researchers in Optometry has not been accompanied by a growing number of scientific journals on Optometry. There is still the habit of sending scientific optometric manuscripts to high-factor Ophthalmology journals with the aim of obtaining a better recognition of the efforts performed by the researchers and achieving a more significant spreading of the scientific content. This facilitates the consolidation of a great amount of Ophthalmology journals, a growing number of journals in the field and subsequently a stagnation or even reduction of the impact factor of the limited number of scientific journals in Optometry 1 , 2 . Optometry researchers need recognized journals where reporting the outcomes of their investigations. This is one of the aims of Journal of Optometry , the scientific peer-reviewed publication of the Spanish General Council of Optometrists.

Several European journals on vision and Ophthalmology are currently available. Each year they published a lot of articles that show the results of Optometric investigations, such as the developments of new tests for measuring visual acuity or contrast sensitivity, the validation of several diagnostic devices that are mainly used by optometrists, epidemiologic studies about refractive errors, the characterization of ocular aberrations in different types of populations, changes in binocular vision after some refractive surgery treatments, or the analysis of the outcomes with specific types of contact lenses. All this research is the result of our knowledge, with or without the input of other scientific areas. Therefore, it seems more coherent to fit all this scientific content in Optometry journals. The problem arises when attempting to find an Optometry journal in Europe with impact factor. American and Australian institutions are the most productive centers of optometric research and receive the highest average number of citations/year 3 . Furthermore, the highest impact factor of Optometry journals corresponds to two journals from United States of America (USA) and New Zealand, respectively ( Optometry and Vision Science / Clinical and Experimental Optometry ) 4 . We are working hard from the Journal of Optometry in the attempt of developing a high quality journal on Optometry that may be a reference of the European Optometry. However, to achieve this aim raw material is needed, researches in Optometry.

The research is a challenge and a chance to show everyone the scientific potential of optometrists. It allows us to improve our clinical procedures and protocols, to implement functional therapies, to expand our knowledge. Research is the future of our profession; it will lead us to an even higher recognition and to a better professional position; it will lead us to a more optimized clinical practice. Research is the result of the power of our knowledge and also a source for new inspiration and advances. If we do our own research we are by definition the leaders in all of those efforts, from the bench to the chair side. Therefore, the development of Optometry research is a critical factor for the future of our profession. The support from governments and universities for Optometry research is crucial in the same manner that the research in other sciences is supported 5 , 6 . Furthermore, we need our platform for reporting our research, more journals with impact factor in Optometry.

Optometrist researchers should contribute to Optometry journals in order to make them greater, to increase the impact factor of the current available journals, and to develop our profession. One excellent opportunity for this contribution to Optometry research and to show our great potential is the next Special Issue of Journal of Optometry (July-September 2012). This issue entitled “New technologies and diagnostic tools in Optometry” will provide an overview of recent researches about the development, validity, and clinical applicability evaluation of new technologies in the context of our profession. International leading scientists in the Optometry field will participate as Topical Editor (Sitiris Plainis, Greece) and Guest Editors (Alejandro Cerviño, Spain, and Hema Radhakrishnan, UK) in this important issue. Submission deadline for this issue is 31st March 2012.

There are still thousands of questions without answer in Optometry that represents our future and the advance of vision care. The luxury of getting to answer those questions makes for a great job and ultimately a great profession of Optometry.

The Optometry lives in its own research.

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Research topics and potential supervisors

We offer research programs for graduates of optometry and other sciences. Research for a Master of Science by Research (MSc) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) can be undertaken in a diverse range of areas and disciplines including clinical optometry, applied research and basic research.  

If you’re interested in pursuing higher degree research with the School of Optometry & Vision Science, then you will need to find a supervisor. SOVS has an excellent range of expertise across seven research groups. Among these are affiliated institutes; the Brien Holden Vision Institute and the Centre for Eye Health. 

Our primary research areas are in anterior segment and contact lenses, posterior segment in health and disease, optics and applied vision, vision science and public health optometry. Take some time to review the research areas and identify who you would like to have as a supervisor. Once you have selected a supervisor, check our admission requirements and submit an expression of interest.

Expression of interest form

Finding a supervisor

• To learn more about the process of finding a supervisor, please visit the  UNSW Graduate Research page . Information on UNSW admissions can also be found here.
• Take time to review our  Research Groups
• Applying as an  International Student?   See why UNSW is Australia’s global university.
• Don’t forget to check out our  available scholarships .

Research topics

View our research topics below:

Contact lens related infection: epidemiology, microbiology and microbial pathogenesis, resistance to antimicrobials:

Associate Professor Nicole Carnt

Professor Lisa Keay

• Dr Jerome Ozkan

Scientia Professor Fiona Stapleton

Dr Ajay Vijay

Professor Mark Willcox

Dr Muhammad Yasir

• Dr Rajesh Kuppusamy  

Dr Parthasarathi Kalaiselvan

Dry eye: contact lens wear, innervation and symptoms, sex hormones:

Associate Professor Blanka Golebiowski

Professor Isabelle Jalbert

Associate Professor Maria Markoulli

Dr Simin Masoudi

Environmental effects on the ocular surface: climate, bushfire smoke, digital devices, smartphones: 

Myopia control incl. orthokeratology:.

• Dr Pauline Kang
• Dr Vinod Maseedupally  
• Emeritus Professor Helen Swarbrick

Dr Kathleen Watt

Ocular surface disease: allergy, biomarkers, diabetes, keratoconus, obesity and nutrition:

Associate Professor Michele Madigan

Ocular therapeutics and drug delivery:

  Dr Jackie Tan-Showyin

  Professor Mark Willcox

Dr Rajesh Kuppusamy

Tear film biochemistry, ocular homeostasis and pathology 

Blue light blocking lenses, effects on visual and non-visual systems:.

Associate Professor Sieu Khuu

Emeritus Professor Stephen Dain

Dr Maitreyee Roy  

Functionalised nanoparticles as contrast agents for bio-imaging:

  Dr Maitreyee Roy

Optical coherence microscopy for ultrahigh-resolution 3D imaging:

Dr Maitreyee Roy

Professor Mark  Willcox

Binocular Vision

Development and maturation of the visual system, amblyopia, colour vision, digital devices (smartphones and computers), eye strain and dry eye:, low vision, visual rehabilitation, accident prevention – multisensory experience of self-motion.

Associate Professor Juno Kim  

Surface and Material Perception:

  Associate Professor Juno Kim

Visual electrophysiology, visual psychophysics, detection of brain abnormalities:

Visual processing:, access to eye care by asylum seeker and refugee communities in australia:.

Dr Kathleen  Watt

Ageing and road safety:

  Professor Lisa Keay

Dr Sharon Oberstein

Cost-effectiveness of cataract surgery:

Dr Jessie Huang-Lung

Cost-effectiveness of low vision services:

Epidemiology of eye injuries:, falls risk and low vision:, innovative models of eyecare delivery:.

  Professor Isabelle Jalbert

Mental health and low vision:

Quality of eye care, evidence-based practice, health systems research:, school vision screening:, use of alternative and complementary medicines:, barriers and enablers influencing eye care for older people receiving home care and residential aged care services:.

  Dr Sheela Kumaran

Quality of life item banks for age-related macular degeneration:

Professor Konrad Pseudovs

Macular disease social impact study;

Dr Sheela Kumaran

Quality of life impacts of non-strabismic, binocular vision, accommodation, and visual tracking disorders in children:

Amblyopia and strabismus-specific quality of life item banks for adults;, keratoconus-specific quality of life item banks:, ocular surface disease-specific quality of life item banks:, keratitis-specific quality of life item banks:.

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Leading vision research in seven areas

From dry eye to traumatic brain injury, our research solves vision problems that plague the nation and the world. Our research faculty are leaders in their respective fields, and they regularly publish articles and present their work at national and international conferences.

Explore our research areas

Anterior segment disorders and dry eye.

Injuries, allergies, inflammation, dry eye, corneal disorders, cataracts, and presbyopia can affect the eye’s ability to focus.  Our researchers are discovering new ways to detect, diagnose, and correct anterior segment disorders, both with and without contact lenses. 

Glaucoma and visual function

Our researchers are developing new methods to improve the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma, a disease that affects 70 million people worldwide and is most severe in the elderly and in underserved populations.

Retinal disease

Our faculty are internationally known for their contributions to the science of retinal function and disease, retinal imaging technology, color vision, and visual processing. Their developments in preventing vision loss and blindness have the potential to save the vision of millions of people worldwide.

Clinical optics and myopia

Through cutting-edge clinical optics research, our faculty are improving the vision and clinical care of patients at our own clinics and around the world. We often work closely with the leading members of the contact lens and vision care industry to develop novel, improved optical designs and safer, more efficient contact lenses.

Low vision and mobility

Loss of peripheral vision, low vision, balance problems, and contrast sensitivity all affect a patient’s daily quality of life. Through research, we’re advancing visual rehabilitation methods for patients who are elderly, visually impaired, or blind.

Pediatric vision

Our research leads to earlier detection of pediatric eye problems, such as amblyopia (or “lazy eye”), and easier treatments for children and their parents. We are also working toward understanding and preventing permanent vision loss in children.

Traumatic brain injury

The eyes are a window into concussions and other traumatic brain injuries, and our researchers are focused on diagnosing and managing those injuries before they cause significant damage.

Collaborative research labs

In addition to our individual successes in faculty research, we foster a collaborative research environment to accomplish the broadest scope of research with optimized research success and productivity.

For example, the Clinical Optics Research Lab (CORL) —dedicated to improving the vision and clinical care of patients through cutting-edge research—is a result of the efforts of several IU School of Optometry faculty members.

Our research helps the world see more clearly.

School of optometry resources and social media channels.

Research Topics & Ideas: Healthcare

100+ Healthcare Research Topic Ideas To Fast-Track Your Project

Finding and choosing a strong research topic is the critical first step when it comes to crafting a high-quality dissertation, thesis or research project. If you’ve landed on this post, chances are you’re looking for a healthcare-related research topic , but aren’t sure where to start. Here, we’ll explore a variety of healthcare-related research ideas and topic thought-starters across a range of healthcare fields, including allopathic and alternative medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, optometry, pharmacology and public health.

NB – This is just the start…

The topic ideation and evaluation process has multiple steps . In this post, we’ll kickstart the process by sharing some research topic ideas within the healthcare domain. This is the starting point, but to develop a well-defined research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , along with a well-justified plan of action to fill that gap.

If you’re new to the oftentimes perplexing world of research, or if this is your first time undertaking a formal academic research project, be sure to check out our free dissertation mini-course. In it, we cover the process of writing a dissertation or thesis from start to end. Be sure to also sign up for our free webinar that explores how to find a high-quality research topic.

Overview: Healthcare Research Topics

• Allopathic medicine
• Alternative /complementary medicine
• Veterinary medicine
• Physical therapy/ rehab
• Optometry and ophthalmology
• Pharmacy and pharmacology
• Public health
• Examples of healthcare-related dissertations

Allopathic (Conventional) Medicine

• The effectiveness of telemedicine in remote elderly patient care
• The impact of stress on the immune system of cancer patients
• The effects of a plant-based diet on chronic diseases such as diabetes
• The use of AI in early cancer diagnosis and treatment
• The role of the gut microbiome in mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety
• The efficacy of mindfulness meditation in reducing chronic pain: A systematic review
• The benefits and drawbacks of electronic health records in a developing country
• The effects of environmental pollution on breast milk quality
• The use of personalized medicine in treating genetic disorders
• The impact of social determinants of health on chronic diseases in Asia
• The role of high-intensity interval training in improving cardiovascular health
• The efficacy of using probiotics for gut health in pregnant women
• The impact of poor sleep on the treatment of chronic illnesses
• The role of inflammation in the development of chronic diseases such as lupus
• The effectiveness of physiotherapy in pain control post-surgery

Topics & Ideas: Alternative Medicine

• The benefits of herbal medicine in treating young asthma patients
• The use of acupuncture in treating infertility in women over 40 years of age
• The effectiveness of homoeopathy in treating mental health disorders: A systematic review
• The role of aromatherapy in reducing stress and anxiety post-surgery
• The impact of mindfulness meditation on reducing high blood pressure
• The use of chiropractic therapy in treating back pain of pregnant women
• The efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine such as Shun-Qi-Tong-Xie (SQTX) in treating digestive disorders in China
• The impact of yoga on physical and mental health in adolescents
• The benefits of hydrotherapy in treating musculoskeletal disorders such as tendinitis
• The role of Reiki in promoting healing and relaxation post birth
• The effectiveness of naturopathy in treating skin conditions such as eczema
• The use of deep tissue massage therapy in reducing chronic pain in amputees
• The impact of tai chi on the treatment of anxiety and depression
• The benefits of reflexology in treating stress, anxiety and chronic fatigue
• The role of acupuncture in the prophylactic management of headaches and migraines

Topics & Ideas: Dentistry

• The impact of sugar consumption on the oral health of infants
• The use of digital dentistry in improving patient care: A systematic review
• The efficacy of orthodontic treatments in correcting bite problems in adults
• The role of dental hygiene in preventing gum disease in patients with dental bridges
• The impact of smoking on oral health and tobacco cessation support from UK dentists
• The benefits of dental implants in restoring missing teeth in adolescents
• The use of lasers in dental procedures such as root canals
• The efficacy of root canal treatment using high-frequency electric pulses in saving infected teeth
• The role of fluoride in promoting remineralization and slowing down demineralization
• The impact of stress-induced reflux on oral health
• The benefits of dental crowns in restoring damaged teeth in elderly patients
• The use of sedation dentistry in managing dental anxiety in children
• The efficacy of teeth whitening treatments in improving dental aesthetics in patients with braces
• The role of orthodontic appliances in improving well-being
• The impact of periodontal disease on overall health and chronic illnesses

Tops & Ideas: Veterinary Medicine

• The impact of nutrition on broiler chicken production
• The role of vaccines in disease prevention in horses
• The importance of parasite control in animal health in piggeries
• The impact of animal behaviour on welfare in the dairy industry
• The effects of environmental pollution on the health of cattle
• The role of veterinary technology such as MRI in animal care
• The importance of pain management in post-surgery health outcomes
• The impact of genetics on animal health and disease in layer chickens
• The effectiveness of alternative therapies in veterinary medicine: A systematic review
• The role of veterinary medicine in public health: A case study of the COVID-19 pandemic
• The impact of climate change on animal health and infectious diseases in animals
• The importance of animal welfare in veterinary medicine and sustainable agriculture
• The effects of the human-animal bond on canine health
• The role of veterinary medicine in conservation efforts: A case study of Rhinoceros poaching in Africa
• The impact of veterinary research of new vaccines on animal health

Topics & Ideas: Physical Therapy/Rehab

• The efficacy of aquatic therapy in improving joint mobility and strength in polio patients
• The impact of telerehabilitation on patient outcomes in Germany
• The effect of kinesiotaping on reducing knee pain and improving function in individuals with chronic pain
• A comparison of manual therapy and yoga exercise therapy in the management of low back pain
• The use of wearable technology in physical rehabilitation and the impact on patient adherence to a rehabilitation plan
• The impact of mindfulness-based interventions in physical therapy in adolescents
• The effects of resistance training on individuals with Parkinson’s disease
• The role of hydrotherapy in the management of fibromyalgia
• The impact of cognitive-behavioural therapy in physical rehabilitation for individuals with chronic pain
• The use of virtual reality in physical rehabilitation of sports injuries
• The effects of electrical stimulation on muscle function and strength in athletes
• The role of physical therapy in the management of stroke recovery: A systematic review
• The impact of pilates on mental health in individuals with depression
• The use of thermal modalities in physical therapy and its effectiveness in reducing pain and inflammation
• The effect of strength training on balance and gait in elderly patients

Topics & Ideas: Optometry & Opthalmology

• The impact of screen time on the vision and ocular health of children under the age of 5
• The effects of blue light exposure from digital devices on ocular health
• The role of dietary interventions, such as the intake of whole grains, in the management of age-related macular degeneration
• The use of telemedicine in optometry and ophthalmology in the UK
• The impact of myopia control interventions on African American children’s vision
• The use of contact lenses in the management of dry eye syndrome: different treatment options
• The effects of visual rehabilitation in individuals with traumatic brain injury
• The role of low vision rehabilitation in individuals with age-related vision loss: challenges and solutions
• The impact of environmental air pollution on ocular health
• The effectiveness of orthokeratology in myopia control compared to contact lenses
• The role of dietary supplements, such as omega-3 fatty acids, in ocular health
• The effects of ultraviolet radiation exposure from tanning beds on ocular health
• The impact of computer vision syndrome on long-term visual function
• The use of novel diagnostic tools in optometry and ophthalmology in developing countries
• The effects of virtual reality on visual perception and ocular health: an examination of dry eye syndrome and neurologic symptoms

Topics & Ideas: Pharmacy & Pharmacology

• The impact of medication adherence on patient outcomes in cystic fibrosis
• The use of personalized medicine in the management of chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease
• The effects of pharmacogenomics on drug response and toxicity in cancer patients
• The role of pharmacists in the management of chronic pain in primary care
• The impact of drug-drug interactions on patient mental health outcomes
• The use of telepharmacy in healthcare: Present status and future potential
• The effects of herbal and dietary supplements on drug efficacy and toxicity
• The role of pharmacists in the management of type 1 diabetes
• The impact of medication errors on patient outcomes and satisfaction
• The use of technology in medication management in the USA
• The effects of smoking on drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics: A case study of clozapine
• Leveraging the role of pharmacists in preventing and managing opioid use disorder
• The impact of the opioid epidemic on public health in a developing country
• The use of biosimilars in the management of the skin condition psoriasis
• The effects of the Affordable Care Act on medication utilization and patient outcomes in African Americans

Topics & Ideas: Public Health

• The impact of the built environment and urbanisation on physical activity and obesity
• The effects of food insecurity on health outcomes in Zimbabwe
• The role of community-based participatory research in addressing health disparities
• The impact of social determinants of health, such as racism, on population health
• The effects of heat waves on public health
• The role of telehealth in addressing healthcare access and equity in South America
• The impact of gun violence on public health in South Africa
• The effects of chlorofluorocarbons air pollution on respiratory health
• The role of public health interventions in reducing health disparities in the USA
• The impact of the United States Affordable Care Act on access to healthcare and health outcomes
• The effects of water insecurity on health outcomes in the Middle East
• The role of community health workers in addressing healthcare access and equity in low-income countries
• The impact of mass incarceration on public health and behavioural health of a community
• The effects of floods on public health and healthcare systems
• The role of social media in public health communication and behaviour change in adolescents

Examples: Healthcare Dissertation & Theses

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding a healthcare-related research topic, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual dissertations and theses to see how this all comes together.

Below, we’ve included a selection of research projects from various healthcare-related degree programs to help refine your thinking. These are actual dissertations and theses, written as part of Master’s and PhD-level programs, so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

• Improving Follow-Up Care for Homeless Populations in North County San Diego (Sanchez, 2021)
• On the Incentives of Medicare’s Hospital Reimbursement and an Examination of Exchangeability (Elzinga, 2016)
• Managing the healthcare crisis: the career narratives of nurses (Krueger, 2021)
• Methods for preventing central line-associated bloodstream infection in pediatric haematology-oncology patients: A systematic literature review (Balkan, 2020)
• Farms in Healthcare: Enhancing Knowledge, Sharing, and Collaboration (Garramone, 2019)
• When machine learning meets healthcare: towards knowledge incorporation in multimodal healthcare analytics (Yuan, 2020)
• Integrated behavioural healthcare: The future of rural mental health (Fox, 2019)
• Healthcare service use patterns among autistic adults: A systematic review with narrative synthesis (Gilmore, 2021)
• Mindfulness-Based Interventions: Combatting Burnout and Compassionate Fatigue among Mental Health Caregivers (Lundquist, 2022)
• Transgender and gender-diverse people’s perceptions of gender-inclusive healthcare access and associated hope for the future (Wille, 2021)
• Efficient Neural Network Synthesis and Its Application in Smart Healthcare (Hassantabar, 2022)
• The Experience of Female Veterans and Health-Seeking Behaviors (Switzer, 2022)
• Machine learning applications towards risk prediction and cost forecasting in healthcare (Singh, 2022)
• Does Variation in the Nursing Home Inspection Process Explain Disparity in Regulatory Outcomes? (Fox, 2020)

Looking at these titles, you can probably pick up that the research topics here are quite specific and narrowly-focused , compared to the generic ones presented earlier. This is an important thing to keep in mind as you develop your own research topic. That is to say, to create a top-notch research topic, you must be precise and target a specific context with specific variables of interest . In other words, you need to identify a clear, well-justified research gap.

Need more help?

If you’re still feeling a bit unsure about how to find a research topic for your healthcare dissertation or thesis, check out Topic Kickstarter service below.

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15 Comments

I need topics that will match the Msc program am running in healthcare research please

Hello Mabel,

I can help you with a good topic, kindly provide your email let’s have a good discussion on this.

Can you provide some research topics and ideas on Immunology?

Thank you to create new knowledge on research problem verse research topic

Help on problem statement on teen pregnancy

This post might be useful: https://gradcoach.com/research-problem-statement/

can you provide me with a research topic on healthcare related topics to a qqi level 5 student

Please can someone help me with research topics in public health ?

Hello I have requirement of Health related latest research issue/topics for my social media speeches. If possible pls share health issues , diagnosis, treatment.

I would like a topic thought around first-line support for Gender-Based Violence for survivors or one related to prevention of Gender-Based Violence

Please can I be helped with a master’s research topic in either chemical pathology or hematology or immunology? thanks

Can u please provide me with a research topic on occupational health and safety at the health sector

Good day kindly help provide me with Ph.D. Public health topics on Reproductive and Maternal Health, interventional studies on Health Education

may you assist me with a good easy healthcare administration study topic

May you assist me in finding a research topic on nutrition,physical activity and obesity. On the impact on children

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The Journal of Optometry (J Optom) is the scientific double blind peer-reviewed publication of the Spanish General Council of Optometry ( www.cgcoo.es ). Audience of J Optom includes optometrists, ophthalmologists and visual scientists, other professionals and researchers with interests in vision and the eye as well as undergraduate and post-graduate students in those fields. The J Optom welcomes the submission of original manuscripts, reviews, case reports and scientific letters describing clinical and experimental research in all fields related with the eye and vision. Journal of Optometry is an open access journal that publishes articles in English.

Indexed in:

Web of Science, Clarivate Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) Pubmed/Medline, Pubmed/Pubmed Central, Índice Bibliográfico Español en Ciencias de la Salud, CrossRef, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), Index Copernicus, National Library of Medicine Catalog (NLM Catalog), SCImago Journal Rank, Google Scholar and Scopus

The Impact Factor measures the average number of citations received in a particular year by papers published in the journal during the two preceding years. © Clarivate Analytics, Journal Citation Reports 2022

CiteScore measures average citations received per document published.

SRJ is a prestige metric based on the idea that not all citations are the same. SJR uses a similar algorithm as the Google page rank; it provides a quantitative and qualitative measure of the journal's impact.

SNIP measures contextual citation impact by wighting citations based on the total number of citations in a subject field.

In the last years, the number of optometrists publishing research works in journals with high impact factor has increased significantly. However, this increase in the quantity of researchers in Optometry has not been accompanied by a growing number of scientific journals on Optometry. There is still the habit of sending scientific optometric manuscripts to high-factor Ophthalmology journals with the aim of obtaining a better recognition of the efforts performed by the researchers and achieving a more significant spreading of the scientific content. This facilitates the consolidation of a great amount of Ophthalmology journals, a growing number of journals in the field and subsequently a stagnation or even reduction of the impact factor of the limited number of scientific journals in Optometry 1 , 2 . Optometry researchers need recognized journals where reporting the outcomes of their investigations. This is one of the aims of Journal of Optometry , the scientific peer-reviewed publication of the Spanish General Council of Optometrists.

Several European journals on vision and Ophthalmology are currently available. Each year they published a lot of articles that show the results of Optometric investigations, such as the developments of new tests for measuring visual acuity or contrast sensitivity, the validation of several diagnostic devices that are mainly used by optometrists, epidemiologic studies about refractive errors, the characterization of ocular aberrations in different types of populations, changes in binocular vision after some refractive surgery treatments, or the analysis of the outcomes with specific types of contact lenses. All this research is the result of our knowledge, with or without the input of other scientific areas. Therefore, it seems more coherent to fit all this scientific content in Optometry journals. The problem arises when attempting to find an Optometry journal in Europe with impact factor. American and Australian institutions are the most productive centers of optometric research and receive the highest average number of citations/year 3 . Furthermore, the highest impact factor of Optometry journals corresponds to two journals from United States of America (USA) and New Zealand, respectively ( Optometry and Vision Science / Clinical and Experimental Optometry ) 4 . We are working hard from the Journal of Optometry in the attempt of developing a high quality journal on Optometry that may be a reference of the European Optometry. However, to achieve this aim raw material is needed, researches in Optometry.

The research is a challenge and a chance to show everyone the scientific potential of optometrists. It allows us to improve our clinical procedures and protocols, to implement functional therapies, to expand our knowledge. Research is the future of our profession; it will lead us to an even higher recognition and to a better professional position; it will lead us to a more optimized clinical practice. Research is the result of the power of our knowledge and also a source for new inspiration and advances. If we do our own research we are by definition the leaders in all of those efforts, from the bench to the chair side. Therefore, the development of Optometry research is a critical factor for the future of our profession. The support from governments and universities for Optometry research is crucial in the same manner that the research in other sciences is supported 5 , 6 . Furthermore, we need our platform for reporting our research, more journals with impact factor in Optometry.

Optometrist researchers should contribute to Optometry journals in order to make them greater, to increase the impact factor of the current available journals, and to develop our profession. One excellent opportunity for this contribution to Optometry research and to show our great potential is the next Special Issue of Journal of Optometry (July-September 2012). This issue entitled “New technologies and diagnostic tools in Optometry” will provide an overview of recent researches about the development, validity, and clinical applicability evaluation of new technologies in the context of our profession. International leading scientists in the Optometry field will participate as Topical Editor (Sitiris Plainis, Greece) and Guest Editors (Alejandro Cerviño, Spain, and Hema Radhakrishnan, UK) in this important issue. Submission deadline for this issue is 31st March 2012.

There are still thousands of questions without answer in Optometry that represents our future and the advance of vision care. The luxury of getting to answer those questions makes for a great job and ultimately a great profession of Optometry.

The Optometry lives in its own research.

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List of Optometric Research Topics

Samantha hazard.

Optometric research may require you to focus on a topic, or to look at the whole picture. Since optometry is such a broad science, the choice of a singular topic may be more difficult than meets the eye. You may have to observe optometry as a whole before you can use your acute sense of perception to see what you really wish to research. Observe and choose from the many great topics around you.

Explore this article

• Vision Impairment and Chronic Disease
• Behavioral Optometry
• Optometric Medication
• Correlation Between Myopia (or Hyperopia) and Astigmatism

1 Vision Impairment and Chronic Disease

Some chronic diseases, such as multiple sclerosis or diabetes, can cause vision loss. While "vision impairment" may be defined as the partial or total loss of vision, chronic disease is a disease that is long-lasting or recurrent. Since both vision impairment and chronic disease may be lifelong impairments, it may be interesting to research either the correlation between one or some chronic diseases and vision loss, the long-term effects of the conjunction, or how treating one may help or impair the other.

2 Behavioral Optometry

Behavioral optometry is a line of optometry that believes in a holistic approach to vision and studies how the eyes and the brain interact to create and train vision, hold "mental pictures," and perceive the world around us. A study in 1945 at Johns Hopkins University deemed the practice of behavioral optometry "was of no value for the treatment of myopia (nearsightedness)." Since this study, however, researchers, optometrists and psychologists have begun to study and practice the use of behavioral optometry with children with ADD and ADHD, to help them narrow their focus and keep their eyes from wandering. This is a strong research topic because there is a lot of information on the spectrum of whether or not behavioral optometry actually works.

3 Optometric Medication

This topic may sound self-explanatory since you can research myriad optometric medications and their uses. However, the topic offers a chance to read and research deeper. Ocular medications may only treat one symptom, like IOP (intraocular pressure), but leave out treatments of other serious problems such as OHT (ocular hypertension). What are scientists and optometrists doing to treat a whole problem (in this case, glaucoma)? Is one symptom more easily treated or more important to be treated than another? Medication in general, just as optomology, is a multi-vectored science and both offer a great research topic.

4 Correlation Between Myopia (or Hyperopia) and Astigmatism

Have you noticed that myopia or hyperopia often occur in conjunction with astigmatism? While myopia and hyperopia are both refractive errors in the eye, and astigmatism is caused by an abnormal corneal curvature, both have to do with the stress on the eye and the ocular muscles surrounding it. This makes a great research topic not only because these conditions affect large populations, but also because researching these correlations offers several topics, including the origin and/or treatment of the conditions.

• 1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
• 2 MedicineNet; Visionary Optometry; Mark Moran; November 2001

About the Author

Samantha Hazard has written professionally since 1998. Her published works can be found in "The High School Writer" literary magazine, "The Manitou Messenger" and "The Woodmen Edition" newspapers, iTunes, and Vimeo. Hazard has a Bachelor of Arts in English, media, and film from St. Olaf College.

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