Vision

The Vision portfolio focuses on the causes, effects and treatment of eye injury and diseases that, despite their different mechanisms and pathogenesis, all have a common end result: degeneration of the critical components of the eye and impairment or loss of vision. Our goal is to foster innovative, military relevant research based on areas of research focus in the following areas: Visual Dysfunction after Concussive Injury/TBI; Protection against Environmental Hazards (Ballistic Eyewear, Transition lenses and Laser Eye Protection); Modulating Ocular Response to Injury (Alter Cornea Injury Response, Minimizing Retinal Laser Injury, Surgical Wound Healing and Orphan Retinal Diseases); Modulating Ocular Response to Disease (Orphan Retinal Diseases and Anterior Segment Dry Eye Studies); Ocular and Visual Restoration (Artificial Retina, Cortical Stimulation for Vision, Optic Nerve Restoration and Corneal Rehabilitation); Tele-Robotics and Simulation (Email Tele-Consultation, Tele-Diagnosis, Tele-Surgery and Mentoring); Refractive Surgery; and Education and Training (Simulation and Distance Education). The current portfolio contains projects involving corneal wound healing, low vision, clinical trials for orphan retinal regenerative diseases, ophthalmology education and training, vision augmentation/substitution and a virtual mentor cataract surgery trainer. Our comprehensive and coherent program of ocular research supports the Department of Defense Vision Center of Excellence.