2021-Annual-Report

THE SCIENCE BEHIND SIGHT

A children’s workbook with vision therapy exercises provides accessible care Student Innovator Award Winner Seeks to Expand Therapy for Amblyopia

Student Receives AAOF Research Award

Third-Year Student Presents at AAO Third-year student Georgina Tsakrios presented a continuing education lecture at the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) in Boston alongside professor Dr. Mark Rosenfield. Their talk, entitled “Eye Injuries Outside the Workplace: The Role of the Optometrist and Legal Responsibilities,” leveraged their joint expertise in optometry and law. Tsakrios received her JD at New York Law School prior to pursing her degree in optometry.

Second-year OD/MS student Gulnoza Azieva was awarded the Joe and Janet Barr Early Career Cornea and Contact Lens Research Award presented by The American Academy of Optometry Foundation (AAOF). She earned the honor in support of her research focusing on the development of a protocol to assess ocular surface and identify reliable parameters that will help in assessment of contact lens induced dry eye (CLIDE).

Second-year student Natalie Duider won the 2021 Student Innovator Award following the College’s 6th annual competition held virtually on April 16. Her winning concept “The At-Home Amblyopia Activity Book,” offers simple yet accessible MFBF (monocular fixation in a binocular field) vision therapy exercises for children. “The goal of the workbook is to maximize vision therapy by providing a convenient and affordable at-home option featuring fun, kid-friendly coloring pages and various games to strengthen vision,” explained Duider. Fellow competitors included third-year students Erica Meltzer and Sofia Ribolla, and fourth years Susan Chen and Schuman Chen, Melissa Levine, and returning champion Jubin Shah. Past Winners • 2016: Vanessa Fimreite, OD, ’16 • 2017: Kathleen Hoang, OD, ’18 • 2018: Elkie Fung, OD, ’19, and Tara Mahvelati, OD, ’19 • 2019: Christian Crespo, OD, ’20 • 2020: Jubin Shah, OD, ’21

The AAOF said Azieva presented an impressive resume of experience in clinical research, volunteer service, and lecture presentation leading to her selection as this year’s award winner. She was recognized for her award and work at the Academy 2021 Boston. “I chose SUNY because of its strong commitment to training vision scientists and future leaders in optometry to advance vision care. My long-term career goal is to become an optometry educator and vision scientist performing my own ocular surface and contact lens research and applying the latest discoveries to our patients,” said Azieva. The Barr Research Award is intended to provide an entering first- or second- year MS or PhD vision science or physiological optics student attending a school/college of optometry support in the amount of $2,000 for research project seed funding in the areas of cornea/ocular surface or contact lenses. The applicant can be in a graduate program alone or combined with professional/residency program.

Research Activity and Grants

38 Grants Totaling $3,059,803

20 Adult and child studies conducted by the CVRC covering medication, device, therapy, contact lens and other areas

6 Students completed the Graduate Center for Vision Research T35 fellowship

38 Presentations and Invited Lectures

33 Research Publications

34 * Active Studies *8 studies ending FY20-21.

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