2020 Annual Report

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE Shedding Light on TBI Research

In April, SUNY College of Optometry investigator Suresh Viswanathan, OD, PhD, became the co-recipient of a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense in the study of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Specifically, the joint research project aims to develop an objective way to measure light sensitivity in patients with mild TBI, defined as a head injury resulting in a loss of consciousness or disorientation for less than 30 minutes. Concussions are the most common type. Study participants include adult TBI patients who do and do not complain of light sensitivity and control subjects with no reported history of head injury or light sensitivity. The three-year investigation will be conducted in collaboration with The Ohio State College of Optometry.

“In the clinic, we ask patients if they are

sensitive to light but have no way of quantifying the severity of this symptom. Through our research, we are not only seeking to develop a diagnostic test but also to understand the physiological process underlying this symptom. We hope to be able to offer some prognosis and reassurance to patients depending on the outcome of this study.” —Dr. Suresh Viswanathan, Chair, Department of Biological and Vision Sciences

14 SUNY Optometry