RESEARCH

The mission of research at the Southern California College of Optometry is to create new knowledge in vision science to further scientific understanding and enhance patient care.

The Southern California College of Optometry has a strong track record of research, including that undertaken by faculty and students. Research projects at SCCO represent a broad spectrum of disciplines within vision research. These include the areas of pediatric optometry and binocular vision, cornea and contact lenses, ocular disease, rehabilitative vision and professional curriculum development. The treatment of amblyopia (also called lazy eye) and convergence insufficiency (the inability to focus comfortably and singly at near) has been a significant area of recent NIH-funded work.

The College has participated in numerous landmark studies to develop new and more effective treatment approaches for amblyopia, which is a devastating visual condition of children and young adults. Another recent emphasis has been in the area of ocular surface disease and dry eye. The College, through several investigators, has undertaken studies to understand the best tests and treatments for dry eye, and to evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic approaches to managing this troublesome condition. Another emerging area of research is the study of the effects of diabetes on retinal function and vision. Diabetes is becoming an epidemic in America which makes improved understanding of the visual ramifications of this serious condition central to effective management.

Faculty Research Interests (Updated – October, 2012)
Current Research Projects (Updated – October, 2012)