Eye and Vision Research Institute

We have innovative imaging technology that covers the eye from front to back. The Tear Film Imager provides objective data regarding this critical layer coating the cornea, which is less than 10 microns thick. Adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy allows researchers to image red blood cells as they course through the retina. These technologies and other state-of-the-art imaging platforms position the Department of Ophthalmology to contribute to detecting and monitoring ocular and systemic disease. 

Researchers have used ocular coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) to demonstrate the efficacy of CRISPR-based gene editing in treating sickle cell disease. Researchers have found a strong association between subretinal drusenoid deposits in age-related macular degeneration and systemic vascular disorders affecting the heart. This discovery highlights the interconnectedness of ocular and cardiovascular health, providing valuable insights for both ophthalmologists and cardiologists.

Our advanced imaging capabilities allow us to detect early signs of various conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension, often before they manifest elsewhere in the body.

Researchers in this area include:

• Mark Kupersmith, MD
• Richard B. Rosen, MD
• Yuen Ping Toco Chui, PhD
• R. Theodore Smith, MD, PhD

Our researchers at the Institute are investigating primary prevention strategies for open-angle glaucoma. Ongoing studies have highlighted environmental risk factors for exfoliation syndrome, the most common form of secondary open-angle glaucoma, and the role of nitric oxide signaling in the pathogenesis of primary open-angle glaucoma. Ongoing work has contributed to resolving the complex genetic architecture of primary open-angle glaucoma. By identifying risk factors and elucidating the genetic basis of glaucoma, the Institute aims to develop targeted prevention and treatment strategies.

Recent groundbreaking research at the Institute has employed archetype analysis, a form of artificial intelligence, to evaluate patterns of visual field loss in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). This study revealed 14 distinct visual field loss patterns and importantly demonstrated that Black people were at a significantly higher risk of POAG with early advanced functional damage compared to non-Hispanic white people. These findings underscore the critical importance of earlier and more frequent glaucoma screening in Black populations to improve early detection and treatment outcomes.

Complementing this work, researchers have also focused on vascular health differences in African Americans and their relation to open-angle glaucoma (OAG). Our studies have shown that while intraocular pressure remains the predominant risk factor for OAG, vascular abnormalities resulting in reduced blood flow through retrobulbar vessels and within the retina are predictive of worse glaucoma progression in people of African descent. This research is particularly significant given the threefold greater OAG burden, earlier onset, and faster disease progression observed in this population, which correlates with higher rates of systemic vascular diseases.

Researchers in this area include:

• Alon Harris, MS, PhD, FARVO
• Louis R. Pasquale, MD

Our investigators focus on mechanistic and therapeutic studies of retinal degenerative diseases caused by the loss of photoreceptors or retinal ganglion cells. These conditions include age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, and glaucoma. We are pursuing two main strategies: a neuroprotective approach to save existing retinal neurons and a neural regenerative strategy to produce new retinal neurons. This dual approach allows for a comprehensive investigation into potential treatments for these eye conditions.

Aside from our work on photoreceptors and retinal ganglion cells, we study the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and RPE-related diseases. By developing in vitro models of the adult human retinal pigment epithelium layer from donors with RPE-related diseases, researchers explore disease pathology more closely to identify compounds that favorably modify the progression of RPE-related diseases. Investigators also research the epigenetic state of RPE in normal and pathological conditions to understand how cell state regulates gene expression. Finally, researchers aim to develop a transplantation method to introduce healthy human RPE from donors into patients with damaged or lost retinal pigment epithelium, to preserve or improve vision.

Researchers in this area include:

• Timothy A. Blenkinsop, PhD
• Bo Chen, PhD