From the College of Optometry…
April 2024 Research Highlights reported by the College of Optometry.
Stacey Coulter, OD
Dr. Coulter’s groundbreaking study, Association of Sociodemographic Characteristics with Pediatric Vision Screening and Eye Care: An Analysis of the 2021 National Survey of Children’s Health, was published in Ophthalmology, the pinnacle of ophthalmology and vision science journals. This study delved into the connections between sociodemographic and health characteristics and the provision of eye care among children aged 17 years and younger in the United States. The study’s key finding was that children from disadvantaged backgrounds are less likely to receive vision screening and eye care. The study underscores the urgent need for targeted strategies to enhance vision screening and access to eye care services in these vulnerable groups.
Bin Zhang, MD, PhD
Dr. Zhang won a grant from an industry leader.
Dr. Zhang’s research on the role of treatment zone decentration in myopic children undergoing orthokeratology is a pioneering endeavor. Many existing lens designs operate under the assumption of perfect lens centering. However, the prevalent treatment zone decentration challenges this design principle. Incorporating treatment zone decentration into the understanding of how different lens parameters affect axial growth is crucial. Dr. Zhang’s study aims to develop a composite index, a combination of the most significant impact parameters, to guide clinic orthokeratology practice.
Roger Li, PhD
Dr. Li’s study,’Brief Adaptation to Astigmatism Reduces Meridional Anisotropy in Contrast Sensitivity,’ published in Invest Ophthalmology and Vision Science (IOVS), has significant implications. The study revealed that astigmatism adaptation occurs during natural scene viewing. A brief exposure to astigmatic blur altered contrast sensitivity in the opposite direction at the two principal meridians, indicating the functional plasticity of the mature visual system to recalibrate the response characteristics of orientationally tuned cortical filters. This adaptation promotes substantial reductions of meridional anisotropy in astigmatic vision, to some extent counterbalancing the elongated oval shape of astigmatic blur. IOVS, a journal renowned for its contributions to basic research in vision science, provided the perfect platform for this impactful study.