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IUSO Professor Donald Miller Named 2024 Rank Prize Recipient

Posted on November 14, 2023 by azuicens

London — Founded in 1972 by the British industrialist and philanthropist Lord J. Arthur Rank, the prestigious Rank Prize is awarded biennially in the ﬁelds of nutrition and optoelectronics. The 2024 Rank Prize for Optoelectronics is awarded to four internationally leading scientists for the development of instruments that use adaptive optics technologies to capture high-resolution images of the living human retina. Their pioneering research has generated new fundamental insights into the structure and function of the human eye in both health and disease as well as new clinical interventions to remedy sight loss from common disorders.

Dr. Junzhong Liang
Professor Donald T. Miller
Professor Austin Roorda
Professor David R. Williams

The Rank Prize will be awarded formally at an event in London on 1 July 2024.

Their work in practice
Adaptive optics (AO) is a technique used in astronomy to reduce image blur in ground-based telescopes. The seminal invention by Dr. Junzhong Liang, Professor David R. Williams and Professor Donald T. Miller in 1997 combined adaptive optics with an objective wavefront sensor to create a retinal imaging camera that exquisitely controlled the light both entering and exiting the pupil. The camera compensated for distortions caused by the eye’s natural aberrations, producing a clear image of individual photoreceptor cells. The instrument was used by Professor Austin Roorda and Professor David R. Williams in 1999 to produce the ﬁrst-ever images showing the distribution of the three cone types in the human retina that are used for colour vision, revealing a surprising randomness and heterogeneity of the spatial distribution of the long- and middle-wavelength-sensitive cone types.

Why the work is important
Since the initial invention, the ﬁeld of AO-based retinal imaging has expanded rapidly. Successive improvements to the hardware and combinations with other imaging modalities have led to signiﬁcant achievements in basic science and clinical applications, including the ability to visualise individual cells across all layers of the complex retinal structure. All four prizewinners have continued to play leading roles in these developments.

The adaptive optics retinal imaging techniques pioneered by the prizewinners have enabled microscopic, real-time visualization of the only part of the brain visible to the external world—the retina—without invasive surgery, driving advances in the understanding and betterment of human vision.

Dr. Junzhong Liang: “I am greatly honoured to receive the 2024 Rank Prize for Optoelectronics for my early involvements in developing adaptive optics technologies for imaging the living retina. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow laureates in particular and many other researchers for their outstanding research that has signiﬁcantly advanced adaptive optics technologies for vision and ophthalmology, and the Rank Prize for awarding this prestigious prize to four of us.”

Professor Donald T. Miller: “It is a great honour to receive the 2024 Rank Prize with my longtime colleagues Junzhong Liang, Austin Roorda, and David Williams. It still feels like yesterday when we were working in David Williams’ laboratory developing the ﬁrst ophthalmic adaptive optics system. The technology and its application to the eye have grown incredibly in the years since thanks to the contributions of so many amazing individuals. The Rank Prize is a wonderful recognition of this effort.”

Professor Austin Roorda: “I am tremendously honoured to receive this award along with such an accomplished and illustrious team. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to play a role in the development and dissemination of this important technology. Thanks to the Rank Prize committee for recognizing adaptive optics as a paradigm-changing technology for ophthalmoscopy.”

Professor David R. Williams: “Of course, we would have been ecstatic under any circumstances at the news of receiving the Rank Prize in Optoelectronics, but it is all the more impactful given the inspirational careers of the prior recipients, including notably, Horace Babcock, who introduced adaptive optics for astronomy the year I was born, and without whose insight we would never have applied adaptive optics to the eye. Also, inventions and discoveries are almost always made by teams and this certainly was the case in this instance. So I am so proud to be sharing this award with my former teammates, each of whom was not only critical to the initial development of ophthalmic adaptive optics but also continue to lead its evolution so successfully through their independent careers post Rochester.”

Professor Donal Bradley CBE FRS, Chair of Rank Prize Optoelectronics Committee: “The prize recognizes a seminal contribution to imaging within the eye that opens new opportunities to understand this complex optical instrument and to improve eyesight through precise interventions. The winners are to be commended both on their highly insightful contributions to vision science and their subsequent development of applications.”

About our four Rank Prize-winning scientists

Dr, Junzhong Liang
Junzhong Liang received a BS and MS in Physics/Optics from Nankai University, China, and a PhD in Applied Physics from Heidelberg University, Germany in 1992. He built the ﬁrst wavefront sensor for human eyes using a Shack-Hartmann sensor during his PhD study, and the ﬁrst adaptive optics system that corrected the eye’s high-order aberrations for the ﬁrst time and enabled the microscopic imaging of living retina as a post-doc researcher in Prof. David Williams’ Lab at the University of Rochester. He invented non-diffractive wavefront multifocal lenses which enabled SIFI SpA in Italy to develop the ﬁrst presbyopia-correcting multifocal IOLs without inducing night symptoms, including Mini-Well Ready and Evolux. He founded Krypton Vision Inc. in 2011, developed high-deﬁnition digital eyeglasses that are not affected by lens movements, and new phoropter with wavefront intelligence for refraction automation. Since co-founding Aplloptix Inc. in 2022, he has been working on developing new refractive surgeries for treatments of not only myopia and astigmatism but also presbyopia by one lens.

IU School of Optometry Professor Donald T. Miller, PhD

Professor Donald T. Miller
Donald Miller received his BS degree in Physics from Xavier University and his PhD in optics from the University of Rochester. He joined the faculty at Indiana University School of Optometry in 1998 and has held the rank of Professor since 2011. Miller’s research focuses on the application of optical engineering and biomedical optics to the human eye. His laboratory develops and applies powerful optical imaging systems to study structures and processes in the living human retina at the cellular level in normal and diseased eyes, studies that have been traditionally limited to histology. In particular, he has pioneered the development of high-resolution imaging systems based on the technologies of adaptive optics and optical coherence tomography. The unprecedented 3D resolution and speed of these systems have enabled cells across the full thickness of the retina to be imaged and tracked for the ﬁrst time, including the highly transparent neurons of the inner retina such as ganglion cells. Miller is a fellow of SPIE and Optica, and a recipient of the Glenn Fry Award, sponsored by the American Academy of Optometry. He has received Indiana University Trustees’ Teaching Award twice for excellence in teaching.

Professor Austin Roorda
Austin Roorda is a Professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of California, Berkeley. He received his PhD from the University of Waterloo, Canada in 1996 in Vision Science & Physics. He had the good fortune to secure a postdoctoral fellowship position in David Williams’ lab at the University of Rochester where he got to use the world’s ﬁrst adaptive optics ophthalmoscope. Since that time, he has been pioneering new applications that leverage the microscopic access offered by adaptive optics and has been using them for basic and clinical science. In 2001, while he was faculty at the University of Houston College of Optometry, he invented the Adaptive Optics Scanning Light Ophthalmoscope (AOSLO), a platform that is now used widely for microscopic retinal imaging around the world. Notable awards include the Distinguished Alumni Award (University of Waterloo School of Optometry, 2007), the Glenn Fry Award (American Academy of Optometry, 2009), a John S. Guggenheim Fellowship (2014), an Alcon Research Institute Award (2016) and a Leverhulme Visiting Professorship (2020) from the University of Oxford.

Professor David R. Williams
David R. Williams’ scientiﬁc career has marshalled advances in optical technology to discover how our eyes allow us to see. Williams received his PhD in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego in 1979 under the mentorship of Donald I. A. MacLeod. In 1981, he joined the University of Rochester. Early work deﬁnitively established the role that the grain of the photoreceptor mosaic plays in the limits of human visual acuity. Subsequently, Junzhong Liang and Don Miller, two postdoctoral fellows working in Williams’ laboratory, built the ﬁrst adaptive optics system for the eye, showing that vision can be improved beyond that provided by conventional spectacles. Most recently, Williams, in collaboration with William Merigan and Juliette McGregor, have developed an adaptive optics-based method to optically record from retinal ganglion cells and also to optogenetically drive their responses with light in the living eye. They are currently exploiting these methods to understand the role for vision of the specialized circuits in the retina and also to restore vision in some forms of blindness. Prior awards include the Edgar G. Tillyer Award (1998), the Friedenwald Award (2006), the Bressler Prize (2007), the Champalimaud Vision Award (2012), The Procter Prize (2015), and the RPB David F. Weeks Award (2020). He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2014.

About Rank Prize
At Rank Prize we have been celebrating outstanding scientiﬁc achievements since 1972. We bring together young researchers and the most eminent in their ﬁelds. Those ﬁelds are nutrition and optoelectronics: the two disciplines our founder Lord Rank built his businesses upon. We support talented researchers with grants, studentships and lectures. We host symposia unlike any others. Together, we discuss. We debate. We challenge. We spur each other on, and make connections that last. And with our Prize, we celebrate the breakthrough ideas that emerge, the people behind them, and the difference they make to the world.

Find out more: www.rankprize.org.

Contact:
Philippa Lewis, Rank Prize
Philippa.lewis@rankprize.org
+ 00 44 (0) 7341 161852

Malinovsky Ocular Disease CE Seminar

Posted on November 3, 2023 by azuicens

Here is the listing of courses and lecturers for the upcoming Malinovsky Ocular Disease CE Seminar, which will be held Dec. 2–3, 2023, at the IU School of Optometry.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2023

8–9 a.m.
Introducing Chalazion Injection and Removal to Your Practice
Jane Ann Grogg, OD

9–11 a.m.
From Anterior to Posterior: Cases with a Comprehensive Ophthalmologist
Andrew Huck, MD

11 a.m.–12 p.m.
Common Quotes in Glaucoma Care: Buy, Sell, or Hold (82772-GL)
Andrew Rixon, OD

12–12:30 p.m.
Lunch

12:30–1:30 p.m.
OCTA
Kaitlyn Sapoznik, OD, PhD

1:30–3:30 p.m.
Retinal and Optic Nerve Head Rounds from the Bluff City
Andrew Rixon, OD

3:30–4:30 p.m.
OCT Biomarkers
Kaitlyn Sapoznik, OD, PhD

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2023

8–10 a.m.
Topical Pharmacology Rounds
Brad Sutton, OD

10–11 a.m.
Cornea Potpourri
Nate Morrow, OD

11 a.m.–12 p.m.
Maximizing Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery
John Lind, MD

12–12:30 p.m.
Lunch

12:30–1:30 p.m.
Anterior Uveitis: Pearls and Pitfalls
Tori Miller, MD

1:30–2:30 p.m.
Scleral Lenses: Are They the Cornea’s New Best Friend
Jennifer Page, OD

2:30–3:30 p.m.
Acquired Brain Injury and the Cornea
Emily Hable, OD

3:30–4:30 p.m.
Soft Tissue Disorders of the Orbit
Larissa Krenk, OD

Some Ethnic Groups at Higher Risk for Retinal Damage from Diabetes

Posted on October 19, 2023 by azuicens

BLOOMINGTON, IN — A group of researchers at Indiana University School of Optometry found individuals are at different risks for retinal damage from diabetes, with certain ethnic groups and males being at a greater risk.

IU School of Optometry Distinguished Professor Ann E. Elsner, PhD, who was the lead researcher of the study, points out the retinal damage along with fellow researchers on the study Senior Scientist Thomas Gast, MD, PhD, and graduate student Vamsi Parimi, MSc. Courtesy IU School of Optometry

“Complications to the retinas of diabetic patients are more likely in some groups, such as African Americans or Asians, even when economic and geographic factors are similar,” says IU School of Optometry Distinguished Professor Ann E. Elsner, PhD, who was the lead researcher of the study and worked with IUSO graduate student Vamsi Parimi, MSc, and IUSO Senior Scientist Thomas J. Gast, MD, PhD, to analyze the data.

Diabetes is a widespread disease that causes damage to the eyes. The retina, which is the part of the eye that captures light and is necessary to initiate vision, is especially vulnerable. The research findings demonstrated that individuals in some ethnic groups were more likely to have damaged retinas, even when all the individuals lacked medical insurance.

“We also documented that the diabetes was severely out of control for some individuals, and these were the ones most likely to have damaged retinas,” explains Dr. Elsner. “Males in some of the groups were particularly likely to have damaged retinas.”

Patients with diabetes have varying likelihood of developing retinal damage, and some need closer monitoring than others. Many individuals have barriers to eye care that can interfere with receiving the prompt diagnosis and treatment that can save vision.

The study looked at patients from several ethnic groups, all of whom had economic barriers to eye care. The sample of

A model based on the data that shows the higher risk of retinal damage for males and certain ethnic groups, which increases with high values of blood glucose. Courtesy of Optometry and Vision Science.

underserved patients from the same clinics had blood glucose levels much higher than is usually reported in clinical trials, which was related to the higher rates of retinal damage. Even though these extreme values of blood glucose were commonly present, the analysis showed that some ethnic groups were especially likely to have eye disease from diabetes, with African American males and Asians having higher rates of retinal damage than Caucasians.

The research found diabetic patients who are African American, particularly males, as well as Asian diabetic patients, should be followed closely by eye care professionals. Any diabetic patient who cannot bring their blood glucose to normal limits should also be followed carefully for eye and other complications. Many patients have economic or other barriers to health care. The consequences of lack of eye care are emphasized in this study.

“It is important to decrease all barriers to eye care,” says Dr. Elsner. “It is also important to provide more help, such as lowering the price of insulin, to diabetic patients to allow them to maintain good control of their blood glucose.”

The National Eye Institute funded the study for more than $2 million. The data were collected by Alameda Health in Alameda County, CA, by UC Berkeley School of Optometry staff Taras Litvin, OD, PhD; Glen Ozawa, OD; and Jorge Cuadros, OD, PhD.

Retinal damage, demonstrated by the circle of whitish lesions, are leaked lipid and protein materials within the retina. Courtesy of Optometry and Vision Science.

The full details of this study will be published in November as “Clinically Significant Macular Edema in an Underserved Population: Association with Demographic Factors and HbA1c” in Optometry and Vision Science, a journal of the American Academy of Optometry.

About 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 the most vulnerable populations. For more information on the IU School of Optometry, visit optometry.iu.edu.

Student Spotlight: Alexis Garcia

Posted on October 13, 2023 by azuicens

Name: Alexis Garcia

Hometown: Belvidere, IL

Where did you do your undergrad education? What was your major, what degree did you earn, and what year did you graduate?
I did my undergraduate education at Benedictine University. I was a biology major and earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology. I graduated in 2022.

Describe the moment when you realized you wanted to become an optometrist.
I realized I wanted to become an optometrist when my childhood optometrist told me about how the eye is the only part of the body where blood vessels can be directly seen and when he helped me by prescribing me contact lenses to be able to continue playing my favorite sport.

Why did you choose IUSO?
I chose IUSO because of the very strong family feel that the school and its staff provided during my admissions day. I knew immediately that the school would provide me with the perfect environment to develop my academic, professional, and personal skills.

What has been your favorite part or moment of being an optometry student so far?
My favorite part of being an optometry student so far has been being able to not only learn about the eyes but also being able to connect information between all of my classes and being surrounded by others that share the same passion for it all.

Why did you get involved in NOSA?
I got involved with NOSA because working as an optician in a large Spanish-speaking area before beginning optometry school showed me the importance of promoting service to minorities and underserved communities. This experience made me very eager to serve these communities and I know that NOSA plays a large role in supporting this passion.

Do you plan on staying engaged with NOA when you become a doctor? Why?
I do plan on staying engaged with NOA when I become a doctor because NOA will not only support me as a new graduate and minority optometrist but also continue to support the overall passion to help minorities and underserved communities by helping to recruit minority students into optometry schools.

Who has been your mentor or the person you reach out to the most?
Dr. Patrice Tankam is someone that I have found to be very supporting and helpful but also the connections and relationships between students in the class are so strong that we all feel very comfortable reaching out to each other with any questions we might have.

What advice (or words of encouragement) would you give a current high-school or undergrad student who is interested in optometry as a possible career?
I would tell them that optometry is a great profession to get into and that one of the best things you can do is to being to shadow optometrist in different settings so that you really familiarize yourself with the full scope of optometry and what the profession all entails.

When you have free time, what do you like to do?
When I have free time, I enjoy gathering up some friends to go play some soccer on campus. This is and has always been for me my favorite way to destress and step away from school.

What state do you want to practice in after graduating? What kind of optometry practice or specialty do you want to work in?
I would like to practice in the Illinois after graduating because of all the family that lives there. Although it still feels early to say, I believe I would enjoy working in a private practice setting where I could make get to really know my patients and create strong relationships with them.

Student Spotlight: Rafael Rodriguez Jr.

Posted on October 13, 2023 by azuicens

Name: Rafael Rodriguez Jr.

Hometown: Barstow, CA

Where did you do your undergrad education? What was your major, what degree did you earn, and what year did you graduate?
ASU: Biology degree, 2019 graduation

Describe the moment when you realized you wanted to become an optometrist.
I wanted to become an optometrist in the 10th grade when I got my ﬁrst pair of glasses. I never knew I needed glasses, and am now amblyopic because I had gone so long without glasses.

Why did you choose IUSO?
I chose IUSO because it was a very nice school and everyone was beyond friendly and nice. I was born and raised in California and it is a very diﬀerent atmosphere of fun, friendliness, and much greener!

What has been your favorite part or moment of being an optometry student so far?
My favorite part so far is being able to understand how the eye works in depth. A lot of people don’t understand just how intricate and delicate the eye is, after all it is a part of the brain!

Why did you get involved in NOSA?
I got involved with NOSA because it is such a big part of optometry and the occupation.

Do you plan on staying engaged with NOA when you become a doctor? Why?
I do plan on staying engaged with NOA when I become a doctor. I plan on keeping myself in the organization to stay up to date with all that is happening with the profession.

Who has been your mentor or the person you reach out to the most?
I currently do not have a mentor or anyone that I reach out to the most. However, it would be very helpful having someone guide me as a student. I do keep in touch with my optometrist and ask questions, however it is very diﬃcult to have them be my mentor as they live across the United States.

What advice (or words of encouragement) would you give a current high-school or undergrad student who is interested in optometry as a possible career?
Something I believe everyone should know who plans on entering this ﬁeld, whether it’s someone looking forward to it who’s in high school, someone from undergrad, or even someone looking for a change in professional ﬁelds, is that it is going to be a legislated profession. I did not really know or understand it at the time, but the laws and scope of practice varies by each state and is something to take into consideration when looking at optometry as a career choice. With that being said, even though it varies by state, being able to impact and improve someone’s life is always worth ﬁghting for!

When you have free time, what do you like to do?
In my free time, I like to watch shows, play intramural sports, or just hang out with friends!

What state do you want to practice in after graduating? What kind of optometry practice or specialty do you want to work in?
It is very diﬃcult knowing what exactly I will be doing after graduation. My optometrist that I had back home said I will always have a job at his two clinics, and it would be very rewarding to give back to my community. However, California is a state that does not allow the full scope of practice that other states do. It is possible that I go back for a few years to give back to my community and then move on to a place that allows for a wider scope of practice. I would like to practice in primary care and possibly specialize in pediatrics. Any line of work that comes my way will be rewarding knowing that I will be improving all types of peoples lives.

Student Spotlight: Liliana Gonzalez

Posted on October 13, 2023 by azuicens

Name: Liliana Gonzalez

Hometown: Miami, FL

Where did you do your undergrad education? What was your major, what degree did you earn, and what year did you graduate?
University of Florida, Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Cell Science with a Minor in Health Disparities, graduated December 2022

Describe the moment when you realized you wanted to become an optometrist.
During my senior year of high school, my Spanish teacher informed me of a job opportunity that would help me earn some extra money to pay for all the festivities of senior year. Without much information on what the job was, I took it! I credit this to being my introduction into the world of optometry. I was doing everything from optician work to front desk duties. Interacting with the patients and doctors sparked my curiosity further. During that same time, my mom was undergoing some pretty serious ocular health issues which involved lots of trips to the optometrist/ophthalmologist. This experience kept that curiosity alive, and I made it my goal keep pursue optometry once I started college.

Why did you choose IUSO?
I had the absolute best experience on Admission’s Day! I loved the positive environment that the faculty and students fostered. Everyone seemed like they were there for you and that has been my experience so far. All our older classmates are very willing to help, and faculty always keep their doors open for anything we may need.

What has been your favorite part or moment of being an optometry student so far?
I love what I have been learning! Whereas in undergrad we had to take extra classes to fulfill credits that may have had nothing to do with what you wanted to pursue, everything here is exactly related to optometry! I have also loved getting to know my classmates and professors!

Why did you get involved in NOSA?
I wholeheartedly believe in the importance of increasing eye care to underserved minority groups. There is a significant need to diversify the profession to ensure that these underserved minority groups have options to a diverse group of optometrists.

Do you plan on staying engaged with NOA when you become a doctor? Why?
Yes! I want to be able to serve my own underrepresented community and the NOA will provide me the support and guidance needed to do this.

Who has been your mentor or the person you reach out to the most?
I’ve been lucky to be a part of an organization called Latinos en Optometry. Through this organization I’ve met many amazing optometrists who have a background similar to mine. Their advice and guidance has been so helpful in my transition to optometry school. I also credit OD2, Gabby Cintron, who has been the absolute best mentor to me. She introduced me to IUSO, has answered all my questions, and has been so willing to lend a hand whenever.

What advice (or words of encouragement) would you give a current high-school or undergrad student who is interested in optometry as a possible career?
I would tell them it’s the best profession ever!!! There are countless opportunities within the career, and it is truly one that you can make your own. Besides that, you are helping others with one of the most important aspects of their day to day living, their sight!

When you have free time, what do you like to do?
On my free time, I enjoy watching movies, spending time with friends and family, and occasionally, going a good mental health walk!

What state do you want to practice in after graduating? What kind of optometry practice or specialty do you want to work in?
Miami, FL, is home and where I hope to return to upon graduating! As of now, I’m interested in ocular disease and dry eye. I’m also exploring private practice as a potential mode of practice.

IUSO Student Spotlight: Gabriela Malave

Posted on October 13, 2023 by azuicens

Name: Gabriela Malave

Hometown: Cedar Lake, Indiana

Where did you do your undergrad education?
I completed my undergraduate education at Indiana University, Bloomington. I graduated in 2022 and received my Biology Bachelor of Arts degree, as well as a minor in Spanish.

Describe the moment when you realized you wanted to become an optometrist.
My interest was sparked by my childhood optometrist who cared for me beyond just my eyes. As I got older, I realized I wanted to become an optometrist when I shadowed local eye care providers who never had a negative thing to say about the profession and always had a smile on their face. With more research, optometry offered many modalities of work and most importantly a healthy work/life balance which was something I wanted for myself and my future family.

Why did you choose IUSO?
I chose IUSO because they viewed my application in its entirety and took the time to look at me as a person and not just another GPA. When I toured at my admissions day, I couldn’t help but feel as though the students and faculty were all there to support me and that we were all working towards crossing the finish line together. Everyone was so open and caring, almost like a family, and that was very important to me. I felt at home and comfortable.

What has been your favorite part or moment of being an optometry student so far?
My favorite part about being an optometry student has been learning all the different clinical techniques that will be applicable to my day-to-day life. I have gained a whole new appreciation for my optometrist. Along with this, the amazing opportunities that come with being an optometry student have also been my favorite. Coming from humble beginnings, never in a million years did I ever think I would be able to go to Washington, D.C., for an optometry meeting or have the chance to go to Jamaica for a mission trip. It’s truly been a blessing.

Why did you get involved in NOSA?
Being Hispanic myself, I found it important to stay up to date and learn more about the advancement in visual health for minority populations.

Do you plan on staying engaged with NOA when you become a doctor? Why?
When I graduate, I do plan to stay involved in NOA in order to expand my scope of practice and expand the population I am able to serve.

Who has been your mentor or the person you reach out to the most?
It is difficult to choose a specific individual who I have reached out to the most, because all of the students and faculty have all been so supportive in this journey. I would have to say Dr. Kohne has been my biggest cheerleader and support since I toured at my admission day, and till this day continues to reassure me in times of difficulty.

What advice (or words of encouragement) would you give a current high-school or undergrad student who is interested in optometry as a possible career?
DO IT! The profession offers more diversity in specialties than most people would think, and although the studies may be difficult at time, remember to look at the bigger picture. The end goal, and trust me when I tell you, the moment you fix a little boy’s glasses that he thought couldn’t be fixed or help someone see the world clearer for the first time, and you see the smile on their faces, it’s a feeling like no other.

When you have free time, what do you like to do?
In my free time, I spend a lot of time at the gym working out and trying to stay healthy, so that I may be the best I can be for my future patients.

What state do you want to practice in after graduating? What kind of optometry practice or specialty do you want to work in?
I plan to practice in the state of Indiana, particularly Northwest Indiana. My dream would be to work in private practice and hopefully own my own clinic one day, where I will offer primary care, sports vision therapy, and volunteer opportunities to travel abroad on a mission trip to serve underdeveloped countries.

IUSO Student Spotlight: Gabby Cintron

Posted on October 13, 2023 by azuicens

Name: Gabby Cintron

Hometown: Jacksonville, FL

Where did you do your undergrad education? What was your major, what degree did you earn, and what year did you graduate?
B.S. in Biology at the University of Florida with a minor in Disabilities in Society, class of 2022

Describe the moment when you realized you wanted to become an optometrist.
I realized I wanted to be involved in health care and after some researching, I discovered that optometry offered the perfect mix of being able to make an important impact on my patients’ lives while also having a great work-life balance.

Why did you choose IUSO?
Everyone was so welcoming at Admissions Day, and it felt like it would be a challenging but supportive environment for the next 4 years!

What has been your favorite part or moment of being an optometry student so far?
Volunteering at the Special Olympics over the summer

Why did you get involved in NOSA?
I loved hearing about its mission and all the great work the club gets involved in; for example, the Angel Tree around Christmas time and distributing the Diversity in Ophthalmic Conditions booklet.

Do you plan on staying engaged with NOA when you become a doctor? Why?
Absolutely, I think there is still so much work to be done advocating for our underserved and/or minority patients and in recruiting more minority optometrists.

Who has been your mentor or the person you reach out to the most?
As a lead AI for Clinical Sciences I, I have gotten the opportunity to work closely with Dr. Peabody. He has been a great role model and teacher to me! I also had the opportunity to learn from Dr. Trevino when I got to be in his student mentor group and to moderate a DEI webinar with him as part of NOSA.

What advice (or words of encouragement) would you give a current high-school or undergrad student who is interested in optometry as a possible career?
Shadow as many practice modalities as you can to see the many directions you can take your career in as an optometrist.

When you have free time, what do you like to do?
I like to go on walks, read, and get ice cream with my friends after a long week!

What state do you want to practice in after graduating? What kind of optometry practice or specialty do you want to work in?
Florida, I’m leaning towards private practice or a VA as of now, but open to seeing where I end up!

IUSO at Academy 2023

Posted on October 2, 2023 by azuicens

Make the most of your time at the American Academy of Optometry’s Academy 2023 conference in New Orleans. Check out these various lectures, poster presentations, and continuing educations courses being led by IU School of Optometry faculty, students, and alumni.

Wednesday, Oct. 11

2-4 p.m.
Location: Level 2, 243-245
Clinical Case Examples of Genetic Testing for Inherited Retinal Disease
IUSO Clinical Professor and Service Chief of Indianapolis Eye Care Center Brad Sutton, OD’93
IUSO Clinical Associate Professor and Director of Residencies Anna Bedwell, OD’10
IUSO Clinical Assistant Professor Larissa Krenk

2 p.m.
Location: Level 3, 351
Treating Ocular Surface Disease with Intense Pulsed Light Therapy
IUSO Director of the Dry Eye Clinic and Assistant Professor Anna Tichenor
IUSO Clinical Assistant Professor Hin Cheung, PhD’22

3 p.m.
Location: Level 3, 353-355
Introducing Chalazion Injection and Removal to Your Practice
Director of IU Health Center Eye Clinic and IUSO Clinical Professor Jane Ann Grogg, OD’94

Thursday, Oct. 12

8 a.m.
Location: Level 2, 265-268
Older Adults are Less Sensitive to the Contrast Level of an Obstacle on the Floor than Young Adults
IUSO PhD Student Kierstyn Napier-Dovorany
IUSO Associate Professor Shirin E. Hassan

8 a.m.
Location: Ballroom C
OCT Gonioscopy with Custom Goniolens to Image Fine Structures of the Human Iridocorneal Angle in Vivo
IUSO Chief of Advanced Ocular Care Services and Clinical Professor Brett King
IUSO Visiting Senior Scientist Thomas Gast
IUSO Clinical Research Assistant Brittany Walker
IUSO Distinguished Professor and Associate Dean for Graduate Programs Stephen Burns
IUSO Post-Doctoral Fellow Alessandra Carmichael

9 a.m.
Location: Level 2, 243-245
The Optic Nerve in Glaucoma and Beyond
IUSO Clinical Professor and Service Chief of Indianapolis Eye Care Center Brad Sutton, OD’93

9 a.m.
Location: Level 3, 353-355
Effective Cataract Co-management in Five Easy Steps
Damon Dierker, OD’02

10 a.m.
Location: Level 3, 353-355
Social Determinants of Health and Access to Eye Care (Joint PHEV Section and ASCO DEI SIG Symposium)
IUSO Professor Emeritus Edwin Marshall, OD’71, MS’79

10:15 a.m.
Location: Level 3, 356
The Association Between Patient-Reported Ratings of Comfort, Dryness, and Vision Quality in Soft Contact Lens Wearers
IUSO PhD Student Josh Richards
IUSO Research Associate Dawn Meyer, OD’12
IUSO Lab Researcher Kenzie Carr
IUSO Data Research Scientist Martin Rickert
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

11 a.m.
Location: Level 3, 348
ACE: Scleral Lens Troubleshooting: Fitting Diagnostically vs. Utilizing Advanced Technology
IUSO Chief of Cornea and Contact Lens Service and Clinical Professor Jason Jedlicka

11:15 a.m.
Location: Level 3, 356
Aberrant Protein Clearance Pathways in Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy
IUSO PhD Candidate Subashree Murugan

1:30 p.m.
Location: Level 2, 243-245
N.E.R.V.E. – A Novel Mnemonic Guaranteed to Accurately Diagnose Glaucoma and Detect Progression
Austin Lifferth, OD’03

1:30 p.m.
Location: Level 2, 265-268
Diabetes Update: Then & Now
Jeffry Gerson, OD’97

1:45 p.m.
Location: Level 3, 357
Optical Effects of Decentering Myopia Control Contact Lenses
IUSO OD/MS Student Grace Walther
IUSO Postdoctoral Researcher Javier Gantes-Nunez
IUSO PhD Student Josh Richards
IUSO Research Associate Matt Jaskulski
IUSO Data Research Scientist Martin Rickert
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

1:48 p.m.
Location: Level 2, 238-239
Ground Rounds: Another Case of Anterior Uveitis? Think Again!
Julia Pulliam, OD’11

2:30 p.m.
Location: Level 3, 348
ACE: Head Scratchers: Diagnostic Challenges in Pediatrics and Binocular Vision
Alexandra Williamson, OD’13

2:30 p.m.
Location: Level 3, 349
Running and Interpreting Electrodiagnostic Testing Workshop
Wendy Harrison, MS/OD’05

2:45 p.m.
Location: Level 3, 356
An Approach Towards Assessing Progression in Glaucomatous Defects Using En Face RNFL Reflectance
IUSO Chief of Advanced Ocular Care Services and Clinical Professor Brett King
IUSO Professor Emeritus William Swanson

3:30 p.m.
Location: Level 2, 255-257
Scleral Lenses: Corneal Tales from the Trenches
IUSO Chief of Cornea and Contact Lens Service and Clinical Professor Jason Jedlicka

4:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall D, Poster Board 197
Driving without Vision
IUSO MS/OD Student Abigail Kuborn
IUSO Associate Professor Shirin E. Hassan

4:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall D, Poster Board 256
The Effect of the COVID-10 Pandemic on Glaucoma Follow Up at an Urban Academic Medical Center
IUSO Resident Sayf Al-Khazraji

4:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall D, Poster Board 16
Early Success Metrics for Test-optional Admissions
IUSO Lecturer Christopher Clark, PhD’14
IUSO Senior Lecturer Nikole Himebaugh, OD’95, PhD’07
IUSO Curriculum Specialist Andi Strackeljahn
IUSO Associate Dean for Students and Clinical Professor Kimberly Kohne

4:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall D, Poster Board 120
Wavefront Aberrations in Aging Measured with Hartmann Shack
IUSO Lecturer Christopher Clark, PhD’14
IUSO Distinguished Professor Ann Elsner
IUSO Graduate Research Assistant Vamsi Parimi
IUSO PhD Student Joel A. Papay
IUSO Distinguished Professor and Associate Dean for Graduate Programs Stephen Burns
IUSO Visiting Senior Scientist Thomas Gast

4:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall D, Poster Board 201
Functional Vision Screening in Young Children: A Scoping Review
Melissa Rice, OD’99

Friday, Oct. 13

10 a.m.
Location: Room 242
Case Report Workshop
Valerie Sharpe, OD’01

11 a.m.
Location: Level 2, 238-239
Ellerbrock Presents: Ground Rounds VI
IUSO Clinical Assistant Professor Larissa Krenk

11:15 a.m.
Location: Level 3, 357
Changes in Visual Acuity Measured with Induced Optical Aberrations
IUSO Graduate Research Assistant Vamsi Parimi
IUSO Distinguished Professor Ann Elsner
IUSO PhD Student Joel A. Papay
IUSO Distinguished Professor and Associate Dean for Graduate Programs Stephen Burns
IUSO Visiting Senior Scientist Thomas Gast

11:30 a.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall F
IU School of Optometry Residency Programs
IUSO Clinical Associate Professor and Director of Residencies Anna Bedwell, OD’10

11:30 a.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall F
IU School of Optometry Vision Science Program
IUSO Distinguished Professor and Associate Dean for Graduate Programs Stephen Burns

1 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall D, Poster Board 57
Diagnosing X-Linked Retinoschisis in a Pediatric Patient
IUSO Clinical Assistant Professor Grace Brasel, OD’21

1 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall D
Case Report of Visual Impairment Due to Radial Keratometry, Evaluation of Aberrated Wavefronts and Perceived Point Spread Function, and Attempted Optical Treatments
Ian Bailey, MS’71

1 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall D
Double-Ringed Corneal Infiltrate After Reported History of Herpes Zoster and Freshwater Exposure
IUSO Resident Madison Bosh

1 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall D, Poster Board R-110
Atypical Presentation of Tolosa Hunt Syndrome with Sequential 6th, 4th, and Complete 3rd Nerve Palsies
Sydney Masters, OD’23

1 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall D, Poster Board R-143
A Foggy Journey: Remote Co-Management for Reactivated Ocular Toxoplasmosis Retinochoroiditis Lesion with Spillover Iridocyclitis
IUSO Resident Sayf Al-Khazraji

1 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall D, Poster Board R-171
Medical Management of a Full-Thickness Macular Hole Associated with CME: Considering an Alternative to Surgical Intervention in Select Cases
Jeremy Caylor, OD’23

1 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall D, Poster Board R-180
Treating Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension in Pregnancy
Emily Wangen, OD’23

1 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall D, Poster Board R-41
Stop, Drop, and Roll: A Warning Against Contact Lens Overwear
IUSO Resident Ellie Crossman

1 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall D, Poster Board R-70
Diagnosis and Management of Unilateral Orbital Myositis in a 2-year-old Caucasian Male
Emily Hackbarth, OD’23

1 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall D, Poster Board R-87
What the 24-2 VF Misses: How to Add Hood Report and 10-2 VF to Your Glaucoma Management
Kaila Coots, OD’23

3 p.m.
Location: Level 2, Ballroom C
Uninvited Guests of the Cornea: Rare Corneal Infections
Paul Karpecki, OD’94

3 p.m.
Location: TBD
Merton C. Flom Leadership Academy Capstone Celebration
Keynote Speaker: Linda Casser, OD’78

3:30 p.m.
Location: Level 3, 357
Pseudo-Foster-Kennedy Syndrome with an Accompanying Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion
Chad Herschberger, OD’23

4 p.m.
Location: Level 3, 356
Foveal Avascular Zone in Diabetic Patients: Comparing OCT and OCTA to Cone and Vascular Findings from AOSLO
IUSO Distinguished Professor Ann Elsner
IUSO Clinical Research Assistant Brittany Walker
IUSO Visiting Senior Scientist Thomas Gast
IUSO Distinguished Professor and Associate Dean for Graduate Programs Stephen Burns

5 p.m.
Location: Level 2, 265-268
When the Vessels Run Dry: Vascular Disease and its Ocular and Systemic Impacts
IUSO Associate Dean for Advancement and Clinical Professor Todd Peabody, OD’03
IUSO Clinical Professor Emeritus Richard Meetz, OD’76

6-8 p.m.
Location: Hilton Riverside, Grand Salon 3
IUSO Alumni & Friends Reception
Make sure to attend for food, drink, and to mingle.

Saturday, Oct. 14

9 a.m.
Location: Level 3, 338-339
Magnifiers for Near Vision
Ian Bailey, MS’71

10:45 a.m.
Location: Level 3, 356
Vergence Performance to Natural Images with Simulated Peripheral Visual Field Loss
IUSO Student Alyssa Powell
IUSO Student Clara Mestre
IUSO Student Tanner Grace
IUSO Interim Dean, Executive Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and Professor T. Rowan Candy

11:30 a.m.
Location: Level 3, 357
Sclerokeratitis/Pseudopterygium with Suspected Link to Systemic Crohn’s Disease
Ramsey Brown, OD’23

2 p.m.
Location: Level 2, 260-262
Looking for the Zebra: Binocular Vision Disorders in the Wild
IUSO Director of Concussion Care Service and Clinical Professor Don Lyon, OD’99
IUSO Clinical Assistant Professor Grace Brasel, OD’21

The Indiana University School of Optometry Recognized Three Alumni at the Annual Alumni Awards Program

Posted on September 26, 2023 by azuicens

Three Indiana University School of Optometry alumni were honored as the 2023 recipients of the school’s Foley House Awards during a reception and program in the Frangipani Room at the Indiana Memorial Union on Sept. 9.

“We couldn’t be prouder of our 2023 Foley House Award recipients,” said IU School of Optometry Associate Dean for Advancement and Professor Todd Peabody, OD’03.

Meet the 2023 Award Recipients
Melvin D. Shipp, BS’70, OD’72, received the Distinguished Alumni Award, which recognizes an IUSO alum who has spent significant time dedicated to excellence in optometry, has represented the school well throughout their career, and has reached pre-eminent status in the field of optometry.

Dr. Melvin Shipp’s journey in optometry is a tapestry woven with academic brilliance, military dedication, and influential leadership. Graduating from Indiana University School of Optometry in 1972, he embarked on a career that left a profound impact.

After his degree, Dr. Shipp served actively in the U.S. Navy, rising to the rank of Navy Captain (O-6) before retiring in 2001. He then transitioned to academia, becoming a cornerstone at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UABSO) as Assistant Dean for Clinical Services and Director of Clinics.

In a remarkable year-long sabbatical, he completed a prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellowship, highlighting his expertise in the field. His legislative contribution, the “Medigap Simplification Act of 1990,” stands as a testament to his dedication to older Americans’ healthcare.

Leading by example, Dr. Shipp championed diversity through programs like the “Improving Diversity in Optometry Camp” and expanded clinical outreach to underserved communities. As Dean of the College of Optometry at The Ohio State University, he tirelessly promoted the college’s mission, diversity, and global health partnerships.

His influence extended to federal bodies such as the CDC, Department of Veteran Affairs, and FDA, solidifying his status as a national expert. Within the optometry sphere, he held pivotal roles, including President of the APHA, showcasing his commitment to public health.

Dr. Shipp’s academic accomplishments include a Master of Public Health from Harvard University and a Doctor of Public Health from the University of Michigan. His legacy is an enduring ode to his contributions to optometry, unwavering commitment to public health, and exemplary leadership.

David J. Weigel, BS’80, OD’82, received the Foley House Basement Key Award for demonstrated exceptional dedication and service to the IU School of Optometry. Dr. Weigel is President of the Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH), Indiana chapter, a role he has held since 2016. His inaugural mission trip in 1984 took him to Honduras, and he has continued to contribute to over a dozen missions to that country. Often accompanied by his wife Linda, he has also been on three missions to Kenya. In recognition of their profound contributions, Dr. and Mrs. Weigel were honored with the VOSH-IN Humanitarians of the Year award in 2013. Dr. Weigel is a member of the Indiana Optometric Association, where he served as a Trustee. Notably, he has served as President of the Whitewater Valley Society. He has also supported the school over the years. He actively participated in the IUSO Dean’s Advisory Council during the early 2000s. His achievements and commitment to optometry in Indiana were celebrated with the Indiana Optometric Association’s Optometrist of the Year award in 2008.

Laura M. Suppa, OD’13, received the Foley House Early Career Award, which recognizes an individual for their contributions in the profession of optometry, notable community engagement, and positive impacts in their companies or organizations. Dr. Suppa joined Charleston Vision Source in July 2014 and purchased the practice in January 2023. Dr. Suppa is President-Elect and Legislative Chair of the West Virginia Association of Optometric Physicians. She also serves on the Federal Relations Committee for the American Optometric Association, is an active member of SECO, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. She is also a former President of the Junior League of Charleston and is an active volunteer in her community. In 2017, she was named West Virginia Young Optometrist of the Year. In 2022, she was honored at Optometry’s Meeting with its AOA Federal Advocacy Award.

The impact Dr. Melvin Shipp, Dr. David Weigel, and Dr. Laura Suppa have made in the profession of optometry is inspiring,” said IUSO Interim Dean Rowan Candy, MCOptom, PhD. “Their outstanding contributions and dedication have not only brought honor to our school but have also set a shining example for future generations of optometrists.”