2024 Annual Report

EDUCATION TRANSFORMING RESEARCH

Inspired to Help Others See Better Research with an Eye on the Future of Myopia

on myopia research when he joined SUNY Optometry in 2008. Q: What is the most exciting research project that you have worked on, to date, and what was so exciting about it for you? Every new research project is very exciting for me. There is always the uncertainty of what we will find, and whether we are heading in the right direction. I am grateful to have a fantastic research team unafraid of exploring new ideas with me, some of which take time and effort to develop and do not necessarily succeed. At the moment, my lab is focused on studying the impact that sustained myopia has on the structure and function of the eye, from its genetic to clinical implications, and whether this impact may be the reason why myopic patients are a higher risk of other ocular conditions like glaucoma. Q: What new research projects might you want to explore in the not-too-distant future? The research field of myopia has transformed rapidly over the last several years. We are no longer exclusively discussing optical treatments to correct defocus, but have optical, pharmacological and behavioral interventions to slow down myopia progression. As the field advances, so does its science and multidisciplinary approach. We are advancing fast thanks to collaborations between vision scientists, biologists, physiologists, neurologists, and engineers. I see great potential in the use of big data and artificial intelligence to understand why eyes become myopic, and develop new strategies to prevent myopia associated blindness.

myopia, were the main reasons I attended the College of Science and Medicine in my hometown, Valladolid, in Spain, where I received my degree in Optometry and Optics. Q: At what point did you decide or realize that you wanted to dive into the world of research as it pertained to optometry? And why? That same curiosity I had about eye tests as a child made me move to the United Kingdom to continue my studies. I earned my Master’s degree in Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science from the University of Manchester, which was focused on understanding the genetic predisposition to corneal graft rejection. That research experience was extremely fulfilling and inspired me to continue my research training in more depth. Some years later, I earned my PhD degree in Vision Science from Aston University. Q: Why did you choose to conduct your research at SUNY Optometry? After completing my MS and PhD degrees, I continued my research training with two postdoctoral fellowships, one in Birmingham and another in London. I remember receiving the invitation to visit the New England College of Optometry where Dr. David Troilo worked on myopia research, and was looking for a post-doc. I was familiar with and fascinated by his work because of the impact of his publications, and shortly after my visit, I moved to NYC to work

Alexandra Benavente-Pérez, MCOptom, MS, PhD, FAAO, FARVO

Dr. Benavente-Pérez is a Research Professor at SUNY College of Optometry celebrating nearly 16 years at the College. We invited her to share her experiences and insights into the world of research as it pertains to optometry. Q: Why did you choose to study optometry and pursue it as a career? As a little girl, I visited my eye doctor regularly because of my myopia. I remember wondering what the eye tests meant, and why it mattered if the letters were clearer on a red or a green background. I remember taking my glasses off and wondering if those objects that I could not see clearly were really there. This curiosity never went away and, combined with my childhood

10 SUNY OPTOMETRY ANNUAL REPORT