RESEARCH


Faculty Research Interests


Carmen Barnhardt, O.D., M.S.

  • Pediatric optometry
  • Refractive error
  • Strabismus
  • Amblyopia
  • Vision therapy

Currently, Dr. Barnhardt is involved in the Amblyopia Treatment Studies (A10:  A Randomized Trial of Full-time Bangerter Filters versus Part-time Daily Patching for the Treatment of Moderate Amblyopia in Children; A11: A Randomized Trial to Evaluate Combined Patching-Atropine Treatment for Residual Amblyopia; and A13: An Observational Study of Optical Correction for Strabismic Amblyopia in Children 3 to < 7 Years Old) and follow-up for the Correction of Myopic Evaluation Trial 2: A Randomized Trial of PALs vs. SVLs on Low Myopia Associated with Large Accommodative Lags and Near Esophoria.

Eric Borsting, O.D., M.S.

  • Evaluating quality of life and attention in children with common vision problems.  This research uses questionnaires and surveys to gather data from both children and parents.

Currently, Dr. Borsting is assessing the validity of visual processing tests with Dr. Barnhardt.  They are investigating whether poor performance on measures of visual processing result in problems with specific classroom tasks for elementary school children.  He is also investigating the origins of visual discomfort when reading, especially with dry eye with Dr. Ridder.

Annie Chang, O.D.

  • Contact lenses and dry eye

Currently, Dr. Chang is involved in a study of reading ability and symptoms in dry eye with Dr. Borsting.

Angela Chen, O.D., M.S.

  • Strabismus and amblyopia treatment
  • Accommodation and refractive error in infants and young children
  • Treatment of binocular vision disorders

Currently, Dr. Chen is conducting research with Dr. Cotter and collaborators in IU and CHLA to assess accommodation performance in hyperopes and children with amblyopia. She is also involved in the Amblyopia Treatment studies and the Intermittent Exotropia Study 2.

Ray Chu, O.D., M.S.

  • Strabismus and amblyopia treatment
  • Myopia development and control
  • Treatment of binocular vision anomalies

Currently, Dr. Chu is involved in the Amblyopia Treatment Studies, and the Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Study.

George Comer, O.D., M.B.A.

  • Glaucoma diagnosis and management

His most recent study involved the validation of the Heidelberg Edge Perimeter.

Susan Cotter, O.D., M.S.

  • Amblyopia and strabismus treatment

Dr. Cotter conducts comparative effectiveness research and epidemiological studies in the area of pediatric eye care.

Tim Edrington, O.D., M.S.

  • Contact lens management of irregular corneal surfaces including keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration, post-penetrating keratoplasty, post-RK and post-LASIK
  • Silicone-hydrogels
  • Contact lenses for the correction of astigmatism
  • Contact lens deposits
  • Contact lens care systems
  • Dry eye

Paula Handford, O.D.

  • Binocular vision (specifically clinical applications of fixation disparity and its relationship with accommodation) and pediatric eye care

Currently, Dr. Handford is involved in the Amblyopia Treatment Studies (ATS 15 and 16) and Intermittent Exotropia 2 Study.

Catherine Heyman, O.D.

  • Visual impairment in children and pediatrics

Currently, Dr. Heyman is involved with the Correction of Myopic Evaluation Trial 2: A Randomized Trial of PALs vs. SVLs on Low Myopia Associated with Large Accommodative Lags and Near Esophoria, the Amblyopia Treatment Study A13, An Observational Study of Optical Correction for Strabismic Amblyopia in Children 3 to < 7 Years Old), and the Central Corneal Thickness Study a Prospective Study of Central Corneal Thickness in Children Less than 18 years old.

Kristine Huang, O.D., M.P.H.

  • Binocular vision and pediatrics

Rebecca Kammer, O.D.

  • Optometric Education
    • Student Engagement in the Learning Process
    • Effectiveness of Pedagogy (specifically problem-based learning) on student satisfaction, critical thinking skills, and engagement
    • Cultural competency curriculum and diversity initiatives within optometric education
  • Low Vision Rehabilitation
    • Effectiveness of online case learning in advancing the education of low vision rehabilitation
    • AMD patients and Video Magnifiers
    • Orientation and Mobility Training effectiveness
    • Occupational Therapy Eccentric Viewing Training Effectiveness
    • Albinism – prevalence, refractive error, and success with low vision devicesLow vision

Justin Kwan, O.D.

  • Dry Eye:  aqueous tear deficiency, MGD, nutrition
  • Contact lenses:  multifocals, myopia progression, scleral lenses
  • Corneal topography:  surface regularity index, contact lens fitting
  • Refractive technology:  higher order aberrations, refractive surgery, cataract surgery
  • Anterior segment photography

Dawn Lam, MSc., O.D.

  • Dry eye
  • Bifocal contact lenses
  • Contact lens assessment in youth (CLAY)
  • Contact lens solutions

James LaMotte, Ph.D., O.D.

  • Dry eye and treatment with artificial tears
  • Blur caused by artificial tears
  • Factors contributing to dry eye
  • Glaucoma; vascular responses related to development of glaucoma
  • Exercise and its effect on IOP and glaucoma
  • Aspirin therapy and development of glaucoma

Eunice Myung Lee, O.D.

  • Pediatric contact lenses
  • Contact lens solutions

John Lee, O.D.

  • Sports vision
  • Video games and vision
  • Driving and vision

Edeline Lu, O.D.

  • Ocular disease topics

Harue Marsden, O.D., M.S.

  • Orthokeratology/corneal reshaping
  • Silicone-hydrogels
  • Contact lens care systems
  • Multifocals
  • Laboratory testing
  • Patient communications

Jason Ng, O.D., Ph.D.

  • Visual electrophysiology and other noninvasive imaging techniques.  The application of these techniques to further our understanding of the pathophysiology of eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration is Dr. Ng's main interest.
  • Basic and clinical aspects of spatial vision (visual acuity)
  • Color vision

Monique Nguyen, O.D.

  • Amblyopia
  • Strabismus
  • Binocular vision anomalies
  • Pediatric optometry
  • Vision-related learning disorders
  • Vision therapy

John Nishimoto, O.D., M.B.A.

  • Ocular disease
  • Dry eye
  • Glaucoma

Reena Patel, O.D.

  • pediatric optometry
  • amblyopia
  • strabismus
  • binocular vision disorders
  • vision therapy

Currently, Dr. Patel is involved in the Amblyopia Treatment Studies (ATS 15 and 16) and the Intermittent Exotropia 2 Study (IXT 2).

Jerry Paugh, O.D., Ph.D.

  • Tear film
  • Corneal and contact lens phenomena
  • Dry eye research (e.g., evaluating clinical tests such as interferometry, testing of experimental products, measuring the residence time of topical formulations)
  • Measuring residence time of topical formulations
  • Corneal research (e.g., measurement of epithelial barrier function)
  • Fluorescent techniques (e.g., for measuring tear exchange, barrier function and residence time) since they are safe and effective in illuminating anterior segment behavior

William Ridder III, O.D., Ph.D.

  • Electrophysiological testing of the visual system
  • Investigating the visual pathway in normal and abnormal visual conditions
  • Visual effects of artificial tears
  • Causes of visual discomfort in students

Mark Sawamura, O.D.

  • Information technology in patient care and teaching
  • Infection control
  • Neuro-ocular disease
  • Ophthalmic pharmaceutical agents

Dr. Sawamura can also provide insight on specific eye and systemic disease conditions that may be used for case based presentations.

Julie Schornack, O.D., M.Ed.

  • A variety of contact lens areas, including presbyopic correction using contact lenses
  • Education in Optometry

David Sendrowski, O.D.

  • Ocular disease of the anterior and posterior segment (specifically, neurological testing, glaucoma, macular degeneration and optic nerve head)
  • Clinical studies with topical medications for the eye and anterior adnexae.

Lawrence Stark, Ph.D.

  • Eye focusing (accommodation) is Dr Stark’s main research interest, with an emphasis on the types of cues and information that drive the response
  • The eye’s aberrations
  • Retinal photoreceptor optics
  • Visual acuity testing

Donna Weiss, O.D.

  • Contact lens research including but not limited to the management of irregular corneas with custom rigid, hybrid and soft designs for Keratocones, Pellucid, PKP, Post-RK, Post-LASIK, Post Lasik Keratectasia)
  • corneal reshaping
  • multifocals (rigid, hybrid and soft designs)
  • new soft lens designs/materials (i.e. astigmatism)
  • research and development of various ocular implants (i.e. IOL, ICL, Scleral Implants etc)

Currenlty, Dr. Weiss is conducting beta testing of a new hybrid design for keratoconus – an advanced design of the SynergEyes KC lens.  She is also a sub-investigator in a FDA monitored IDE clinical trial for scleral spacing implants targeting presbyopia.

Robert Yacoub, O.D.

  • Ocular disease topics, including diabetic changes in the eye and transient vision loss.

Patrick Yoshinaga, O.D., M.P.H.

  • Primary eye care
  • Low vision topics

Research