Indiana University School of Optometry News – Read all about the school and its students, faculty, staff, and alumni

IECC Continues Holiday Tradition of Supporting Local Families

Posted on December 16, 2025 by lmboswel

For the fifth year in a row, the Indianapolis Eye Care Center (IECC) staff has joined the broader IU Indianapolis community in spreading holiday cheer through the Season of Giving initiative.

The annual initiative partners with local organizations Hawthorne Community Center and Christamore House, who both serve families on the Near West Side of Indianapolis. The organizations work year-round to support education, quality of life, community engagement, and much more. During the holidays, they help identify families who would benefit from additional support – families who work hard to make ends meet, but who many struggle with the additional expenses of the season.

Campus groups are matched with these families and purchase gifts from their wish lists, helping them create a warm and meaningful holiday season without added financial strain.

Since first participating in 2021, IECC’s contributions have steadily grown. Over five years, the team has raised $6,600 and supported 64 individuals, reflecting the clinic’s deep commitment to community-centered service. This year alone, IECC raised $1,600 to sponsor three families – 11 individuals in total.

Leading the effort once again were Kirstin Floyd and Ann Michael, Clinic Optometric Technicians at IECC. The two headed out early on Black Friday to shop for their three family’s needs and wishes.

Kirstin stands behind a red Target cart, full of clothes, toys, and a fluffy blanket. — Kirstin Floyd has enjoyed shopping for the Season of Giving families for the last five years.

“It was kind of busy, a little stressful at times,” Floyd shared, “but helping those in need get a nice Christmas that otherwise wouldn’t, makes it worth it.” She and Ann have taken on the shopping together every year, with other team members contributing what they can – time, money, energy and/or holiday spirit. After shopping, IECC team members gather to wrap the gifts, creating an annual tradition of service that extends well beyond clinic walls.

Dr. Brad Sutton, Associate Dean for Clinics, reflected on the impact this annual effort has both on recipients and on the Indiana University School of Optometry (IUSO) community. “This yearly endeavor is something that IECC staff and doctors, as well as IUSO as a whole, should be proud of. Each year, we are able to bring…joy to many families who otherwise would not be able to experience it.”

IECC staff member sits at a table, wrapping a gift. A volleyball and stack of wrapped gifts sits nearby. — A key part of the IECC tradition is wrapping the gifts as a team.

The Season of Giving program illustrates what can happen when campus and community members unite – not only to meet practical needs, but to create moments of connection and joy. These gifts represent more than wrapped presents for local families; they represent a community standing beside them.

As IECC closes out its fifth year of participation, the team remains committed to strengthening these bonds and continuing to uplift local families. Through collective generosity and shared purpose, the IECC community demonstrates what it means to care for neighbors – not just during the holidays, but all year long.

Two IUSO Alumni Earn National Honor for Their Community-Focused Care

Posted on December 10, 2025 by lmboswel

This year, two Indiana University School of Optometry graduates – Danielle Richardson, OD’15, and Kayla Campbell, OD’14 – were selected as recipients of the 2025 Golden Opportunity Award, a national recognition that supports early-career optometrists pursuing independent practice ownership.

Their paths may look very different – one in West Hollywood, one in rural West Virginia – but both doctors are using their education and experience to meet the needs of the communities they know best.

Building a new model of care in West Hollywood
During her undergraduate years at Indiana University, Dr. Danielle Richardson was still considering her future career path. After hearing longtime IUSO faculty member Dr. Ed Marshall speak to her scholarship cohort, her eyes were opened to optometry. Subsequent conversations with Dr. Marshall, her hometown optometrist, and Cindy Vance from admissions, she began to see the profession’s potential.

Dr. Richardson will open CLARITY on Melrose in December 2025, with plans to expand in future years.

“At IUSO, I was constantly inspired by the variety of career paths alumni were taking,” she said. “Connecting with those doctors as a student made me realize I could design a career on my own terms. The clinical education was rigorous and gave me the confidence to practice. To this day, I still lean on the resources and relationships I built there.”

This winter, Dr. Richardson will open CLARITY on Melrose, the flagship clinic in West Hollywood that will serve as a blueprint for future satellite locations. Her goal is to “build a next-generation patience care experience, blending advanced ocular aesthetics with medical grade treatments to elevate both functional and aesthetic outcomes.” Dr. Richardson hopes that her practice becomes both a clinical resource and a welcoming space for patients who may not always see themselves represented in healthcare.

Receiving the Golden Opportunity Award, she said, affirmed the vision behind her cold-start practice. “The support from this grant is more than financial… I put a tremendous amount of thought into building a strong business plan, and receiving this award was a validating moment. It confirmed that, not only am I on the right path, but that others see the potential and purpose in what I’m creating.”

Beyond the clinic, Dr. Richardson is passionate about shaping the future generation of optometrists. Long-term, she plans to expand her outreach to include mentorship, in-office training, and scholarship support to help students access and thrive in the optometry profession.

Returning home to serve rural Appalachia
For Dr. Kayla Campbell, the journey back to Vienna, West Virginia as an optometrist, began years earlier in an exam room of her own. After a difficult stretch of contact lens complications, her hometown optometrist asked a question that stuck with her: Have you thought about optometry?

“Something clicked immediately,” she said. “From that day forward, I knew what I wanted to do.”

Dr. Campbell purchased Visionary Eye Care, in early 2025.

IUSO was a practical fit – close to her husband’s hometown and offering a robust clinical experience. Although the transition to the demanding program in a larger town was challenging at first, everything changed when she started practicing in the clinic.

“That’s where I feel like I soared,” she said. “Seeing patients, connecting with faculty, learning how to think like a doctor – that’s where it all came together.”

Now, she is the owner of Visionary Eye Clinic, serving the community where her family still lives. In a region with limited private practice options and few eye care providers, her clinic fills critical gaps for patients of all ages.

Dr. Campbell also remains dedicated to supporting future optometrists. She helped create Bridging the Gap, a program through West Virginia Association of Optometric Physicians (WVAOP) that prepares students for the practical realities of becoming a doctor – from obtaining licensure, navigating contracts, and understanding insurance. She continues to mentor students and serves as a trustee and past president of WVAOP.

When she learned she had received the Golden Opportunity Award, she was stunned. “I had all my spreadsheets ready,” she laughed. “I was prepared for another round of questions – but then I got the great news that I had won alongside Dr. Richardson.”

The two winners hold glass awards in front of an AOA Foundation backdrop. — Danielle Richardson, OD’15 and Kayla Campbell, OD’14 were recognized with the Golden Opportunity Award at Optometry’s Meeting in Minneapolis in June 2025.

Different communities, shared commitment
Though their practices sit in different places with unique challenges, Dr. Richardson and Dr. Campbell share a commitment to the kind of personal, community-focused care that shaped their own training at IUSO. Each credits the school’s clinical education and broad exposure to career paths with giving them the confidence to build practices that reflect the needs of their communities.

Whether creating an inclusive wellness-centered space in Los Angeles or strengthening access to care in rural Appalachia, both doctors show how optometrists can shape healthier futures – one patient, and one neighborhood, at a time.

About the Golden Opportunity Award
Founded in 2024, the Golden Opportunity Award was created to honor the legacy of David Golden, O.D. who passed away in 2021 after a long-fought battle with cancer. Dr. Golden was a co-founder of the Professional Eyecare Resource Co-Operative Alliance (PERC), and EssilorLuxottica employee. His passion as a doctor lay in “elevating those around him, helping others climb the ladder of success.” In this spirit, the award was created as a collaborative effort between The AOA Foundation and PERC Alliance. Up to three Golden Opportunity Awards of $50,000 are awarded each year to optometrists who wish to achieve their dream of owning their first independent practice, with a special encouragement for those underrepresented in the optometric community or for those who intend to practice in an underserved community.

IUSO Brings Vision Science to Life at IU’s Science Fest

Posted on November 10, 2025 by lmboswel

The Indiana University School of Optometry (IUSO) helped make this year’s IU Science Fest a memorable, hands-on celebration of discovery. Throughout the day on November 1, 18 enthusiastic OD and PhD student volunteers – joined by faculty members Dr. Nicholas Port and Dr. Stephanie Klemencic – welcomed a steady stream of families eager to explore how we see the world. Their suite of interactive activities invited children to step into the shoes of eye doctors, patients, and even visual scientists.

A mother and young daughter pose on one side of a display table, while an IUSO student stands on the other side. — At the Eye Ball Dissection table, attendees could see how eyeballs from a cow, pig and mouse compared to a human model eye.

Visitors experimented with refraction by observing how a stirring rod disappears in glycerol, challenged their assumptions through classic optical illusions, and learned how polarized sunglasses can hide or reveal information on a monitor. Kids also tested their aim in the Eyeball Toss while wearing refractive lenses, navigated the “Googly-Eyed Gauntlet” to experience restricted visual fields, and tried their hand at the age-old optometrist question: “Which is better, 1 or 2?” One of the most popular stops was the eye-anatomy table, where dissected cow, pig, and mouse eyes were displayed alongside a human model to highlight similarities and differences across species.

An IUSO student holds a polarized sheet over a computer screen, while a child and adult look on. — At the Polarization Station, attendees learned the science behind sunglasses.

IUSO’s presence embodied the spirit of Science Fest—making science accessible, exciting, and meaningful for children and families. Through playful learning and real scientific demonstrations, the School of Optometry helped ignite curiosity about vision and showcased how understanding our eyes deepens our understanding of the world.

IUSO Students Engage in Community Outreach, Advocacy, and Professional Development

Posted on November 3, 2025 by lmboswel

The fall semester has been a busy one for many Indiana University School of Optometry Students. The School, several clubs and classes have held meaningful events, focused on providing students with opportunities for outreach, advocacy and professional development.

Photo of students and faculty posed behind a branded IU School of Optometry table, set up in a school gymnasium.

Greene County Wellness Fair
In September, third-year students Abby Walker, Conor Brazill, and Jenna Hall joined Dr. Elli Kollbaum to provide free eye screenings at the Greene County Wellness Fair. This event was coordinated by the IU Center for Rural Engagement, in collaboration with several IU schools and departments, and community organizations. Students provided vision screenings, educated attendees on the importance of regular eye exams, shared information about the Atwater Eye Care Center’s services, and answered a range of eye health questions.

Foundation Fighting Blindness’ VisionWalk with the Low Vision Club
Dr. Hassan and about 25 IUSO students from the Low Vision Club supported the Foundation Fighting Blindness’ VisionWalk, held on September 13 at the White River State Park in Indianapolis. The event directly supports the Foundation’s critical research on inherited retinal diseases – work with the potential to change lives.

The IUSO team served as route monitors for the 5K walk and accompanied participants, including those who were visually impaired or blind. The team also hosted a booth where they interacted with the public, answered eye health questions, provided vision screenings, and educated attendees about the services offered by the IUSO Eye Clinics and the importance of regular eye care.

Students pose together around a high-top table in a red tablecloth.

Career Sight
On September 26, over 200 students attended IUSO’s second Career Sight, featuring expert panels and a networking fair connecting students with professionals and industry leaders across optometry. Panel topics included private, corporate, specialty, and private equity practices, as well as externships and residencies. Thank you to the many IUSO alumni and industry professionals who came to campus for the panel and networking fair! Photos from the day can be found here.

States’ Day

On October 1, AOSA hosted States’ Day, featuring representatives from Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, who discussed practicing in their states and the importance of engaging with their state associations. State associations typically have a goal of positively impacting advocacy, continuing education, clinical practice, and networking interests. Students were able to network with these representatives and those from three corporate partners.

Midwest Regional Conference
On October 4, AOSA hosted the Midwest Regional Conference, and welcomed over 100 students, alumni, and local optometrists to campus. This Conference provides a platform for networking, education, and leadership-building, and is the only regional conference in the midwest that is organized for optometry students, by optometry students.

The day included mini-CE courses taught by IUSO Faculty: Dr. Don Lyon, Dr. Anna Tichenor, Dr. Jason Jedlicka, Dr. Brad Sutton, Dr. Stephanie Klemencic, Dr. Cathy Cheng, Dr. Grace Brasel, and Dr. Jane Ann Grogg; a Practice Management Seminar Panel with IUSO Alumni Dr. Gregg Norman and Dr. Jorge Benavente, Dana Jones, and Brian Crane; and a Residency Panel with Dr. Anna Bedwell.

Three IUSO Alumni Honored with Foley House Awards

Posted on October 17, 2025 by lmboswel

Three Indiana University School of Optometry (IUSO) alumni were honored as the 2025 recipients of the school’s Foley House Awards during a reception and program in the Frangipani Room at the Indiana Memorial Union on October 4. This reception marked the end of another successful IUSO Alumni Weekend that included a Golf Outing that raised over $15,000 for the IUSO Alumni Scholarship; Practice Management Seminar for students and alumni alike; school and clinic tours; and several class reunions.

“It is a privilege to recognize this year’s Foley House Award recipients,” said IUSO Dean Suresh Viswanathan, BOptom, MS, PhD. “Each of them has made extraordinary contributions – whether through decades of leadership, innovation in patient care and research, or inspiring service early in their career. They embody the excellence and commitment that define the IU School of Optometry, and we are immensely proud to celebrate them.”

Sarita Soni, OD’76, MS’79, was presented with the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Distinguished Alumni Award – Sarita Soni, OD’76, MS’79

Dr. Sarita Soni, Professor Emerita at Indiana University’s School of Optometry, has exemplified the spirit of this honor through her lifelong dedication to advancing optometry, distinguished academic leadership, and unwavering commitment to patient-centered research and education. A leading expert in corneal physiology and refractive error correction, she played a central role in establishing the Borish Center for Ophthalmic Research. At IU, she served as Associate Dean for Research, Interim Dean, and later Vice Provost for Research, providing strategic leadership across more than 20 research centers. Nationally, she has served on the FDA’s Ophthalmic Devices Panel, the NIH National Advisory Eye Council, and as president of the American Optometric Foundation. She is also an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Neil Pence, OD’79, is awarded the Basement Key Award.

Basement Key Award – Neil Pence, OD’79

For more than four decades, Dr. Neil Pence has dedicated his career to advancing the mission of IUSO through leadership, teaching, scholarship, and service. As Associate Dean for Clinical and Patient Care Services, he modernized and expanded IUSO’s clinics, ensuring the highest standards of patient care. He has taught across a wide range of courses, developed the school’s Capstone Graduation Seminar, and co-directed the joint IUSO/Kelley School of Business MBA and certificate programs in the Business of Eye Care. He has also mentored countless students and advised organizations including the Private Practice Club and Gold Key Leadership Society. Beyond IU, his impact includes leadership roles in the American Academy of Optometry and international contact lens educator associations, as well as authoring more than 70 scholarly articles.

Jessilin Quint, OD’14, is awarded the Early Career Award.

Early Career Award – Jessilin Quint, OD’14

Since graduating in 2014, Dr. Jessilin Quint has emerged as a dynamic leader, clinician, and advocate within optometry. She is co-owner of Smart Eye Care, with three locations in Maine, and founder of the Smart Dry Eye Center of Excellence. Widely recognized for her expertise in ocular surface disease, she has published extensively, hosts the podcast To the Point: An Ocular Surface Disease Podcast, and lectures nationally. Dr. Quint currently serves as President of the Maine Optometric Association and as a Federal Advocacy Representative for the American Optometric Association. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, a Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry, and has been recognized with honors such as the Women in Optometry Theia Award and Modern Optometry’s “One to Watch.”

About the Foley House Awards
There are three types of Foley House Awards bestowed by the IU School of Optometry. The Distinguished Alumni Award honors an alum for their preeminent status within the field of optometry. The Basement Key Award recognizes significant contributions given to the IU School of Optometry. The Early Career Award highlights an alum’s notable contributions to the profession in the early years of their career. IUSO has presented these awards annually since the inception of the Basement Key in 1976.

About the Indiana University School of Optometry
The Indiana University School of Optometry prepares its students for careers in optometry, the ophthalmic industry, and vision science through teaching, research, and service. The school is home to the most comprehensive and advanced eye health education, research, and patient care available, with an emphasis on outreach to vulnerable populations. For more information on the IU School of Optometry, visit optometry.iu.edu.

IUSO Students Honored at Academy 2025 Boston

Posted on October 14, 2025 by lmboswel

During the American Academy of Optometry’s 2025 conference in Boston, a number of Indiana University School of Optometry PhD students were presented with special awards.

Aishu Ravi and Saumya Srivastav
AAO Student Travel Fellowships
These awards allow for students to travel and speak at Academy. Students are selected primarily for accomplishment and potential in optometric research and education. Academic abilities, including clinical abilities if relevant, are considered.

Nutchaarpa (Saai) Puangmalai
AAO Robert Newcomb Student Travel Fellowship and Joe and Janet Barr Early Career Cornea and Contact Lens Research Award
The Travel Fellowship makes it possible for students to attend Academy.

Joe and Janet Barr Early Career Cornea and Contact Lens Research Award provides $2,000 in seed funding to a first- or second-year MS or PhD student in vision science or physiological optics conducting research in cornea, ocular surface, or contact lenses. The award supports one year of research with the possibility of a one-time competitive renewal.

Matthew Keller, OD (Optometric Glaucoma Society) and Josh Richards (Meta Technologies)
Ezell Fellowships
Ezell Fellowships support high-achieving graduate students enrolled in a full-time program of study and training in vision-related research, leading to a master’s or PhD degree. Fellowships are for one year; the current amount award is $8,000. Each student also receives two $750 travel grants to attend Academy and ARVO annual meetings.

Tristan Long, OD
AAOF EssilorLuxottica OD/PhD Award
The OD/PhD Scholarship Program, established by the American Academy of Optometry Foundation in partnership with EssilorLuxottica, provides up to five fellowships of $45,000 each—paid over two years—to support optometrists pursuing PhD degrees in vision science or related biomedical fields. This highly competitive award supports future educators and researchers advancing optometric science and leadership.

Jessica Stein, Donna James and Emily Krok
EssilorLuxottica Academic Challenge
The EssilorLuxottica Academic Challenge (ELAC) is a team-based quiz competition among all optometry schools in the U.S. and Canada, open to students attending Academy 2025 Boston. Teams of three students from each school compete in an interactive, educational contest that tests all levels of optometric knowledge and concludes with a champion being crowned.

IUSO at Academy 2025

Posted on October 3, 2025 by lmboswel

We invite those attending the American Academy of Optometry’s 2025 conference in Boston to take advantage of the various lectures, workshops, and presentations led by IU School of Optometry faculty, students, and alumni. Most events will take place at the Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center.

You are also invited to join us for our annual IUSO Alumni and Friends Reception on Friday, October 10 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. in the Westin Hotel, Marina II Ballroom. We can’t wait to see you there!

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8

8:00-8:50 a.m.
Location: 210 ABC
Lecture: OCT: The Optometrist’s MREye
IUSO Associate Dean for Clinical and Patient Care Services and Clinical Professor Brad Sutton, OD’93

8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Digital
Presentation: A Joint Project Between the Public Health/Environmental Vision Section and the New Women’s Health SIG: Human Trafficking: Hidden in Plain Sight
IUSPH Associate Clinical Professor Deborah Getz, MS, Re.D
IUSO Clinical Professor Emeritus Richard Meetz, OD’76

8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (10/8-10/11)
Digital
Presentation: Interprofessional Education Collaborative Core Competencies Revision 2023
Julie Tyler, OD’09

8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (10/8-10/11)
Digital
Presentation: University of Virginia Department of Ophthalmology Ocular Disease with an Emphasis on contact lenses
Evan Kaufman, OD’06

8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: 153 ABC
Special Event: Optometric Glaucoma Society/American Academy of Optometry Joint Symposium: Glaucoma Masterclass: Mistakes, Measurements, and Monitoring
IUSO Chief of Advanced Ocular Care Services and Clinical Professor Brett King, OD’98

12:00-1:00 p.m.
Location: 213
Industry Innovation Lunch & Learn, Sponsored by: Astellas
Jeffry Gerson, OD’97

12:00-1:00 p.m.
Location: 213
Industry Innovation Lunch & Learn, Sponsored by: Bruno Vision Care
Paul Karpecki, OD’94

1:00-1:50 p.m.
Location: 153 ABC
Lecture: Refractive Cataract Surgery: Patient Selection and Ocular Surface Optimization
Damon Dierker, OD’02

1:00-1:50 p.m.
253 ABC
Lecture: Inadequate Flow to Make the Eye Go: Ocular Ischemic Syndrome and Beyond
Julie Tyler, OD’09

2:00-2:50 p.m.
Location: 104 ABC
Lecture: Enhancing Optometric Communication: Strategies for Patients Across the Lifespan and Diverse Communication Profiles
IUSO Associate Dean for Advancement and Clinical Professor Todd Peabody, OD’03
IU SPHS Associate Clinical Professor Erin Peabody, MA

2:00-2:50 p.m.
Location: 255
ACE: Retina OCT Interpretation for Beginners
Clinical Assistant Professor Samantha Polster, OD, FAAO

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9

8:00-9:00 a.m.
Location: 153
Presentation, Hot Topics: A Randomized trial of Prescribed Full-Time Alternate Patching Therapy for Intermittent Exotropia in Children
Chief of Pediatric and Binocular Vision Service, Director of the Myopia Management Clinic, and Clinical Associate Professor Katie Connolly, OD, FAAO

8:00-9:00 a.m.
Location: 253 ABC
Presentation, Hot Topics: Longitudinal Detection of Glaucomatous Retinal Ganglion Cell Size change and Loss in Vivo Using Adaptive Optics OCT
IUSO PhD Candidate & Adjunct Clinical Professor Matthew Keller, OD
IUSO Research Associate Yan Liu, PhD
IUSO Postdoctoral Fellow Kristen Bowles-Johnson, OD, PhD, FAAO
IUSO Graduate Student Qiuzhi Ji
IUSO Postdoctoral Fellow Marcel Bernucci, PhD
IUSO Assistant Scientist Kazuhiro Kurokawa, PhD
IUSO Chief of Advanced Ocular Care Services and Clinical Professor Brett King, OD’98
IUSO Professor Emeritus William Swanson, PhD
IUSO Professor Donald Miller, PhD

8:00-9:00 a.m.
Location: 253 ABC
Presentation, Hot Topics: Structure-Function Analysis: Evaluation of Envision Perimetry Headset and Humphrey Field Analyzer
IUSO Professor Emeritus William Swanson, PhD
Anne Rozwat, OD’94

10:00-10:50 a.m.
Location: Westin Hotel – Carilton
Diplomate Prep: Anterior Segment Jeopardy! 2025
Christen Kenrick, OD’10

10:15-10:30 a.m.
Location: 257 A/B
Presentation, Papers: Dose-Dependent Effects of 17β Estradiol on Corneal Expression of Inflammatory Mediators and Membrane-Associated Mucins
IUSO Director of the Dry Eye Clinic and Assistant Professor Anna Tichenor, OD, PhD, FAAO
IUSO PhD Student Nutchaarpa “Saai” Puangmalai, MS’23

10:45-11:00 a.m.
Location: 257 A/B
Presentation, Papers: Protective Effects of Taurine on Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in Mouse Corneal Endothelial Cells
IUSO PhD Student and Graduate Assistant Saumya Srivastav, OD
IUSO Assistant Scientist Diego Ogando, PhD
IUSO Lab Technician Edward Kim
IUSO Professor and Dean Emeritus Joseph Bonanno, PhD, OD

12:00-1:00 p.m.
Location: 212
Industry Innovation Lunch & Learn, Sponsored by: Bausch + Lomb
Jessilin Quint, OD’14

1:00-1:15 p.m.
Location: 259 A/B
Presentation, Papers: Comparing Clinical Tests for Fixation in Amblyopia
Jingyun Wang, PhD’07

1:00-1:15 p.m.
Location: 259 A/B
Presentation, Papers: P-07 Binocular Vision Paper Session
Jingyun Wang, PhD’07

1:30-1:45 p.m.
Location: 259 A/B
Presentation, Papers: A Technique to Measure Peripheral Vision and Assess the Characteristics of Ocular Motor Eye Movements in Young Infants
IUSO PhD Student Aishwarya Ravi, M.Optom, B.Optom, FAAO
IUSO Lab Manager Stephanie Biehn, IU BA’90, MPA’95
IUSO PhD Student Fuseina Safianu, OD
IUSO Executive Associate Dean for Academic Affairs T. Rowan Candy, MCOptom, Ph.D., FARVO

1:45-2:00 p.m.
Location: 259 A/B
Presentation, Papers: The impact of induced retinal image blur on monocular and binocular depth-related visuomotor task performance
Jingyun Wang, PhD’07

2:00-2:15 p.m.
Location: 259 A/B
Presentation, Papers: Visual fatigue in concussed adolescents: Symptom provocation across successive oculomotor tests
Jingyun Wang, PhD’07

3:30-4:20 p.m.
Location: 253 ABC
Lecture: Hydroxychloroquine Toxicity: Cases and Conundrums
IUSO Clinical Assistant Professor Samantha Polster, OD, FAAO

3:30-4:20 p.m.
Location: 107 ABC
Lecture: Taking the Mystery Out of Abnormal Pupils
IUSO Associate Dean for Clinical and Patient Care Services and Clinical Professor Brad Sutton, OD’93

3:30-4:20 p.m.
Location: 212
Lecture: Dry Eye – Where to Start?
Jessilin Quint, OD’14

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: Enhancing Vision Screening Practices for School-Age Children in Rural Jamaica
Chief of Pediatric and Binocular Vision Service, Director of the Myopia Management Clinic, and Clinical Associate Professor Katie Connolly, OD, FAAO

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: Eye Care Professionals’ Perspectives Regarding Astigmatic Contact Lens Patients Needs
Meredith Bishop, BS’07, MS’09, OD’09

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: A Soft Toric Contact Lense Can Increase Visual Performance Measured Under Blue Haze Conditions by Adding An HEV-filter
John Buch, MS’98

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: A Toric Soft Contact Lense with HEV-Additive Increases the Brightness of Natural Images
John Buch, MS’98

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: The Impact of a Short-Wave Filtering Soft Contact Lens on Contrast Sensitivity
John Buch, MS’98

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: Comparison of Visual Acuity measurements with an Electronic ETDRS Display with Free Viewing VS a Maxwellian View System With a 3mm Pupil
IUSO Graduate Student Vamsi Parimi, MS
IUSO Distinguished Professor Ann Elsner, PhD
IUSO Chief of Advanced Ocular Care Services and Clinical Professor Brett King, OD’98
IUSO Lecturer Christopher Clark, PhD’14

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: Seeing the Risks: How Vision Loss Shapes Perceptions of E-Scooter Use and Safety
IUSO OD/MS Student Sommer Ray
IUSO Associate Professor Shirin Hassan, PhD

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: Improvement in Visual Tasking Activities and Workplace Productivity After 14 Days of Acoltremon 0.003% Treatment: Integrated Analysis of COMET Studies
Paul Karpecki, OD’94

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: Survey on Chronic Ocular Surface Pain: Prevalence and Treatments
Paul Karpecki, OD’94

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: Association between intelligence and visual perception in professional students
Karen Kehbein, OD’09

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: Dynamics of accommodative behavior under prolonged viewing of electronic devices in young adults: implications for near work-induced myopia
IUSO Associate Dean for Research, Director of the Borish Center for Ophthalmic Research at the Indiana University School of Optometry, and Professor Pete Kollbaum, OD’99, PhD’07
IUSO Research Scientist Dawn Meyer, OD’12
Raman Sah, PhD’23

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: Optical Evaluation of Contrast Modulating Diffusion Optics Myopia Control Spectacle Lenses
IUSO Associate Dean for Research, Director of the Borish Center for Ophthalmic Research at the Indiana University School of Optometry, and Professor Pete Kollbaum, OD’99, PhD’07
IUSO Research Scientist Dawn Meyer, OD’12
IUSO Research Scientist Ryan Webster
IUSO PhD Student Josh Richard

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: Comparative Assessment of Light Exposure Using Three Wearable Sensors and Subjective Estimates
Raman Sah, PhD’23

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: Comparison of Objectively Measured Time outdoors and Near Work with Daily Logs
Raman Sah, PhD’23

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: Comparison of two wearable sensors for objective measurement of viewing distance
Raman Sah, PhD’23

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: In Vivo Foveal Cone Photoreceptor Organization in Infant Non-Human Primate Eyes
Raman Sah, PhD’23

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: Objective Quantification of Near, Intermediate and Distance Work in Young Adults
Raman Sah, PhD’23

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: Comparison of the Pediatric Dry Eye Questionnaire to the Ocular Surface Disease Index and Dry Eye Questionnaire-5 in Children Aged 5-18 Years
IUSO Associate Vice Provost for Health Sciences Clinical Services and Education and Clinical Professor Tracy Nguyen, PhD’12

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: Pediatric Dry Eye Study Investigating the Impact of BMI and Digital Screen Time on Ocular Surface Metrics
IUSO Associate Vice Provost for Health Sciences Clinical Services and Education and Clinical Professor Tracy Nguyen, PhD’12

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: Early Patient-Reported Satisfaction in Patients Initiated on Perfluorohexyloctane for Dry Eye Disease
Jessilin Quint, OD’14

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: Effectiveness of Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) ECHO for training pediatric therapy providers on CVI early identification and intervention
Melissa Rice, OD’99

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: Two-year real-world effectiveness of myopia control contrast modulation spectacle lenses in a Canadian practice
IUSO Research and Data Scientist Martin Rickert, PhD

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: Test Time and Patient Experience with the Envision Perimetry Headset
IUSO Professor Emeritus William Swanson, PhD
Anne Rozwat, OD’94

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: Intersession and intrasession test-retest reliability of retinal-based fixational eye movements in normal controls amblyopes
Jingyun Wang, PhD’07

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: Macular thickness and optic nerve head in children with unilateral amblyopia
Jingyun Wang, PhD’07

4:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: The Effect of Netarsudil and Bimatoprost on Central Corneal Thickness and Corneal Hysteresis in Normal Tension Glaucoma 12-Week Outcome
Jingyun Wang, PhD’07

5:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: 204AB
Presentation, Evening Industry Insights Sponsored by Bausch and Lomb
Jeffry Gerson, OD’97

5:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: 258 ABC
Lecture: Diseases in Disguise: Syphilis, Herpes, and Lyme
Julie Tyler, OD’96

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10

8:00-8:50 a.m.
Location: 255
ACE: Diagnosis and Management of Aniseikonia
IUSO Clinical Assistant Professor Grace Brasel, OD’21

8:00-8:50 a.m.
Location: 258 ABC
Lecture: Optogenetic Therapies for Retinal Degenerative Diseases – Clinical Developments and Updates
Jeffy Gerson, OD’97

10:00am-11:40 a.m.
Location: 256
Workshop: Advancing Strategies in Ocular Surface Disease management: Intense Pulsed Light Therapy, Radio Frequency, and Nasolacrimal Lavage
IUSO Director of the Dry Eye Clinic and Assistant Professor Anna Tichenor, OD, PhD, FAAO
IUSO Clinical Assistant Professor Hin Cheung, PhD’22

10:00am-11:40 a.m.
Location: 210 ABC
Lecture: The Ravages of the Herpes Group
Paul Karpecki, OD’94

10:30-10:45 a.m.
Location: 259 A/B
Presentation, Papers: Optimizing A Dual Temporal Offset Quadrant Non-Confocal Adaptive Optics Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope for Imaging of Retinal Structure and Function
IUSO Graduate Student Brittany Walker
IUSO Postdoctoral Researcher Marcelina Sobczak, PhD
IUSO Distinguished Professor and Associate Dean for Graduate Programs Stephen Burns, PhD

11:00-11:50 a.m.
Location: 107 ABC
Lecture: Sleep Apnea and the Eye
IUSO Associate Dean for Clinical and Patient Care Services and Clinical Professor Brad Sutton, OD’93

11:15-11:30 a.m.
Location: 259 A/B
Presentation, Papers: Association of Retinal Mid-Peripheral Capillary Fee Zones with Structural and Functional Parameters in Diabetic Patients with No Clinical Retinopathy
Edmund Arthur, PhD’18

12:00-1:00 p.m.
Location: 213
Industry Innovation Lunch & Learn, Sponsored by: Tarsus
Paul Karpecki, OD’94

1:00-3:00 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: When the Eye Feels Nothing: Managing Neurotrophic Keratopathy and Corneal Ulcer Induced by Amniotic Membrane
IUSO Cornea & Contact Lens Resident Nataliya Babiychuk, OD

1:00-3:00 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion: An Ocular Clue to Systemic Vascular Emergencies
IUSO Primary Care Resident ‘22 Miranda Geisinger, OD, FAAO

1:00-3:00 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: Rapid Efficacy and tolerability of Cyclosporine Ophthalmic Solution 0.1%/perfluorobutlypentane (CsA 0.1%/PFBP) in Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
Paul Karpecki, OD’94

1:00-3:00 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: optimizing visual potential: Scleral lenses and phototherapeutic keratectomy for granular corneal dystrophy
Evan Kaufman, OD’06

1:00-3:00 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: Simultaneous Solar and Laser-Pointer Maculopathy
Karen Kehbein, OD’09

1:00-3:00 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: The Use of Topical Losartan for The Reduction of Corneal Scarring
Stephen Kimmell, OD’06

1:00-3:00 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: Tailored Treatment for a Troublesome Triad: Multimodal Treatment of Moraxella Keratitis in a Diabetic Patient with Neurotrophic Keratitis
Austin Lifferth, OD’03

1:00-3:00 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: From Tuft to Tear: The Evolution of a Vitreoretinal Tuft
IUSO Resident Kaylee Mayo, OD’25

1:00-3:00 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: Ethical challenges in the management of Glaucoma in Geriatric Patients
IUSO Resident Anna Sandlin, OD

1:00-3:00 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall
Presentation, Posters: Double the Trouble: Millard Gubler Syndrome and Pontine Stroke
IUSO Pediatric Resident Alyssa Bentz, OD, MS

1:30-3:10 p.m.
Location: 256
Workshop: Student Bootcamp for Ocular Surface Disease Procedures and Techniques
IUSO Clinical Assistant Professor Hin Cheung, PhD’22
IUSO Director of the Dry Eye Clinic and Assistant Professor Anna Tichenor, OD, PhD, FAAO
IUSO Clinical Assistant Professor Ellie Crossman, OD
With support from IUSO 2nd Year Students Angelica Moss, Abigail Walker, Jessica Wenning, Grace Walther, Emily Krok, and Elise Radcliffe.

1:30-2:20 p.m.
Location: 157 ABC
Lecture: Rapid Fire: Drawing the Line in Specialty Contact Lenses
IUSO Chief of Cornea and Contact Lens Service and Clinical Professor Jason Jedlicka, OD

2:30-3:20 p.m.
Location: 253 ABC
Lecture: Breaking Down the Genetics of Inherited and Acquired Retinal Disease
IUSO Associate Dean for Clinical and Patient Care Services and Clinical Professor Brad Sutton, OD’93
IUSO Clinical Associate Professor and Director of Residencies Anna Bedwell, OD’10
IUSO Clinical Assistant Professor Larissa Krenk, OD

3:30-4:20 p.m.
Location: 253 ABC
Lectures: Diabetes Update: What’s New in 2025
Jeffry Gerson, OD’97

3:30-5:10 p.m.
Location: 107 ABC
SIG Symposia/Section: When the Eye Mingles with Shingles – Advances in Zoster Eye Disease (Anterior Segment Section)
Christen Kenrick, OD’10

4:30-4:45 p.m.
Location: 259 A/B
Presentation, Papers: Older adults with central field loss lower their head more than controls when walking on a clear pathway that may have a low contrast obstacle
IUSO Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor and PhD Student Kiersty Napier-Dovorany, OD
IUSPH Associate Professor Alison Gruber, PhD
IUSO Associate Professor Shirin Hassan, PhD

7:00-9:00 p.m.
Location: Westin Hotel, Marina II Ballroom
IUSO Alumni & Friends Reception
You’re invited to attend for food, drink, to mingle with alumni and faculty, and to hear updates from IUSO Leadership.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11

10:00-10:50 a.m.
Location: Westin Hotel – Carilton
Lecture: ODMD Collaborative Care – Perioperative Management of Premium IOLs
Christen Kenrick, OD’10

1:00-1:50 p.m.
Location: 156 ABC
Lecture: Evidence-Based Vision Screenings: A Practical and Data-Driven Approach
Chief of Pediatric and Binocular Vision Service, Director of the Myopia Management Clinic, and Clinical Associate Professor Katie Connolly, OD, FAAO

Obituaries from 2023-25

Posted on March 24, 2025 by azuicens

1950s
Max R. Gwaltney, 91, BS/MS’56, of Port St. Lucie, FL, died in 2024.

Jack F. Moore, 89, BS’57, MS’58, of Dallas, TX, died in 2024.

1960s
Richard L. Carman, 88, BS’61, MS’62, of Winona Lake, IN, died on June 5, 2023. He was an optometrist for 40 years as owner of Dr. Richard L Carman Optometrist, Inc. He retired in 2002. Dr. Carmen was a 60-year member of the American Optometric Association.

A 60-year member of the Illinois Optometric Association, David W. Miller, 83, BS’63, MS’64, of Decatur, IL, died on Aug. 28, 2024. He had a successful optometry career in Decatur for 57 years.

Vigo H. Nielsen, 85, MS’68, of Charlottesville, VA, died in 2024. He was a recipient of the American Optometric Association’s William C. Ezell Fellowship. Dr. Nielsen served for several years on the consulting board of the Indian Optician journal.

Richard D. Septon, 90, MS’69, of Forest Grove, OR, died on July 23, 2024. Dr. Septon served as a professor of optometry at Pacific University for 37 years, until he retired in 1997. He was a member of the American Optometric Association.

Dean A. Wright, 80, BS’67, OD’69, of Alexandria, VA, died on March 9, 2023. He was drafted to the Army in 1969 and served one tour in Vietnam from 1970 to 1971 as an optometrist in the Medical Service Corps. While serving in Vietnam, Dr. Wright earned a Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in ground operations against hostile forces. When he returned home, he was stationed at Fort Myer in Arlington, VA. He later opened his private optometry practice in Fairfax, VA, where he practiced for more than 40 years.

1970s
Robert “Bob” Sartoris, 78, BS’70, OD’72, of Surprise, AZ, died on Nov. 30, 2024. He established optometric practices in both St. Cloud and Cold Spring, MN. Dr. Sartoris practiced optometry for 44 years before retiring in 2016.

Donald E. Robbins, 78, BS’69, OD’71, of Shelbyville, IN, died on Nov. 15, 2024. He was in private practice for 46 ½ years, beginning his career of general optometry in Shelbyville. Dr. Robbins participated in school vision screening since 1974. He was also a very active member of the Indiana Optometric Association (IOA) where he served as Secretary-Treasurer, Vice President, President-Elect, President, and on numerous committees. The IOA recognized all his accomplishments with the Meritorious Service Award in 1979 and 1987, Distinguished Service to Optometry Award in 1995, Indiana Optometrist of the Year in 1990, and the Legislative Service Award 1991.

Denis J. McCormack, 76, OD’74, of Warsaw, IN, died on Oct. 25, 2024. Dr. McCormack began his career under Dr. Paul Grossnickle before establishing The Spectacle Shoppe, a family-owned and operated business that continues to serve Warsaw and the surrounding communities.

Steven P. Bennett, 80, OD’76, of Fort Wayne, IN, died on Dec. 25, 2024. He owned Dupont Vision Center, Decatur Vision Center, and previously had an office in New Haven, IN.

1980s
Richard L. Brown, 69, OD’84, of Grand Island, NE, died on Aug. 1, 2024. After graduating from the IU School of Optometry, his family settled in Grand Island where he purchased the optometric practice of Dr. K.J. Walker. He operated a solo practice for 5 years and then merged with Dr. Gary Pedersen and Dr. William Grange to form Eye Care Professionals and Grand Island Optical. He also ran satellite offices in Loup City and Ravenna, NE. Dr. Brown practiced optometry in the Grand Island area for 29 years before he retired in 2013. He was a member of the Nebraska Optometric Association.

Mark W. Roark, 65, BS’82, OD’84, of Indianapolis, died on June 25, 2024. He began his career in Berne, IN, before moving to Indianapolis. Dr. Roark saw patients at MetroHealth for 12 years before moving into private practice. In 2003, he opened his own practice, Allisonville Eye Care Center, where he provided excellent patient care until his health declined at the end of 2022. Dr. Roark was passionate about all aspects of eye care, especially how nutrition relates to eye health. He wrote 19 professional publications and lectured often, including twice at Cambridge University in England. Dr. Roark was a member of the American Optometric Association and the Indiana Optometric Association for 29 years and was proud to be a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry since 2012. In 2024, the Indiana Optometric Association presented him with a Meritorious Service Award for his service to the community and profession. Dr. Roark enjoyed providing eye care to those in need in Bolivia, Honduras, Jamaica, Haiti, and Dominica.

Brad L. Backhaus, 65, BS’84, OD’86, of Willmar, MN, died on Dec. 17, 2024. After graduating from the IU School of Optometry, Dr. Backhaus and his wife returned to Minnesota where Brad began practicing optometry. In 1987, they moved to Willmar, where he worked at Pearle Vision. After six months, Dr. Backhaus purchased the franchise. He continued practicing optometry in Willmar until his retirement in 2022.

1990s
Kristina L. Morris, 60, OD’93, of Bloomington, IN, died on Sept. 26, 2024. She practiced optometry in Bloomington for 33 years with Morris Family Eye Care. Dr. Morris started and owned Sight Savers International Non-Profit, which provided funds to support needy families in both the United States and Guatemala. She had a passion and heart for the poor and the young, which led her to take yearly mission trips for 12 years to Guatemala with students from the Illinois College of Optometry.

2000s
John D. McKenna II, 50, OD’01, of Indianapolis, Indiana, died on Aug. 21, 2024. In 2005, he purchased an optometry practice in Indianapolis and renamed it McKenna Family Eye. Dr. McKenna proudly served his community until he closed his practice.

2010s
Jennifer L. Hill, 42, OD’10, of Daytona Beach, FL, died on Feb. 2, 2025.

IUSO Faculty and Staff
Ritsuko Noda, 89, of St. Louis, MO, died on Dec. 25, 2024. She worked at the IU School of Optometry as a supplies coordinator for more than 15 years, leaving in 2007.

Joel A. Papay, 38, PhD’22, of Bloomington, IN, died on Dec. 4, 2024. As a graduate student, he won the Associate Instructor of the Year award and supervised numerous OD students doing research. After graduation, he continued to be employed on special projects at IUSO in Distinguished Professor Ann Elsner’s lab. He was employed on NIH grants as a Research Associate and then a Software Engineer at Aeon Imaging, LLC. He was a co-author on 13 published articles.

Alumni Spotlight: Linda Johnson

Posted on March 19, 2025 by azuicens

Alumni Spotlight
Get insights from an IUSO alum through six questions.

Linda Johnson, OD’78
Jackson, MS

1) What do you do now?
Director of Optometry Services at Jackson Hinds Comprehensive Health Center in Jackson, Mississippi.

2) What is your favorite aspect of your career?
I always loved what I do. I love helping people and making a difference in their life.

3) What is your favorite memory from being an optometry student at IUSO?
My favorite memory is the friendships that I developed as a student.

4) What advice would you give current IUSO students?
When you travel to optometry meetings, whether it’s AOA, NOA, SECO, or state meetings, network with optometrist, learn about the type of practice modalities that they practice.

5) What advice would you give your fellow alumni?
Support your Optometry School financially. Every amount makes a difference.

6) What do you like to do in your free time?
As I’ve gotten older, rest and relaxation. I love spending time with family.

IUSO’s Newest Gold Key Members

Posted on March 3, 2025 by azuicens

On Feb. 28, President of the Gold Key International Honor Society Katie Edwards announced the newest students from the IU School of Optometry who became Gold KeyMembers.

The mission of Gold Key is to recognize optometry students who demonstrate outstanding leadership to their college and profession. Membership to Gold Key is limited to 10% of the graduating class. The American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) recognizes Gold Key membership as “the highest honor for leadership a student of optometry can achieve.” Students from the Class of 2026 were chosen for membership based on contributions they have made to the profession and the school.

The IUSO Class of 2026 chosen for membership are:
Donna James – President
Leigh Anne Roth – Vice President
Jenna Barbour – Treasurer
Aaron Ho – Secretary
Kara Krautkramer
Annie Dykstra
Kate Buuck
Holly Sallee