Research Areas

Leading vision research in seven areas

We are home to one of the leading vision science programs in the world, with more than a dozen research labs and sought-after faculty who write the textbooks other schools teach.

From dry eye to traumatic brain injury, our research solves vision problems that plague the nation and the world. Our research faculty are leaders in their respective fields, and they regularly publish articles and present their work at national and international conferences. Their work results not only in a high reputation for the school, but in better educated students and quality patient care.

Explore our research areas

Anterior segment disorders and dry eye

Injuries, allergies, inflammation, dry eye, corneal disorders, cataracts, and presbyopia can affect the eye’s ability to focus. Our researchers are discovering new ways to detect, diagnose, and correct anterior segment disorders, both with and without contact lenses.

Clinical optics and myopia

Through cutting-edge clinical optics research, our faculty are improving the vision and clinical care of patients at our own clinics and around the world. We often work closely with the leading members of the contact lens and vision care industry to develop novel, improved optical designs and safer, more efficient contact lenses.

Glaucoma and visual function

Our researchers are developing new methods to improve the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma, a disease that affects 70 million people worldwide and is most severe in the elderly and in underserved populations.

Low vision and mobility

Loss of peripheral vision, low vision, balance problems, and contrast sensitivity all affect a patient’s daily quality of life. Through research, we’re advancing visual rehabilitation methods for patients who are elderly, visually impaired, or blind.

Pediatric vision

Our research leads to earlier detection of pediatric eye problems, such as amblyopia (or “lazy eye”), and easier treatments for children and their parents. We are also working toward understanding and preventing permanent vision loss in children.

Retinal disease

Our faculty are internationally known for their contributions to the science of retinal function and disease, retinal imaging technology, color vision, and visual processing. Their developments in preventing vision loss and blindness have the potential to save the vision of millions of people worldwide.

Traumatic brain injury

The eyes are a window into concussions and other traumatic brain injuries, and our researchers are focused on diagnosing and managing those injuries before they cause significant damage.

Collaborative research labs

In addition to our individual successes in faculty research, we foster a collaborative research environment to accomplish the broadest scope of research with optimized research success and productivity.

Our vision scientists collaborate with schools and departments across the university and the world.

Our collaborative work includes the study of biochemistry, biophysics, epidemiology, cell biology, imaging, molecular biology, neuroscience, optics, ophthalmology, pathology, physiology, psychology, psychophysics, statistics, and other disciplines that relate to vision and its problems.

For example, the Clinical Optics Research Lab (CORL)—dedicated to improving the vision and clinical care of patients through cutting-edge research—is a result of the efforts of several IU School of Optometry faculty members.