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ARVO is combining presentations from some of the top researchers in TBI with perspectives from three blinded U.S. military veterans, who will share their stories of vision loss as a result of TBI suffered in combat situations. The vets’ presentation will be followed by a moderated Q&A/ discussion, in which attendees are encouraged to participate. Former NFL running back Terrell Davis will speak about the need for more research to support veterans, athletes and others whose lives have been devastated by TBI.

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Joan Miller, MD, FARVO and Napoleone Ferrara, MD, will present on their pioneering work on the protein VEGF, which ultimately led to treatment for age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy at the ARVO 2015 Annual Meeting in Denver. Miller and Ferrara are among seven recipients of the $1.3 million António Champalimaud Vision Award, the world’s highest distinction in ophthalmology and visual science, for their pioneering work to treat AMD and diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of blindness in people over age 50.

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Ian Crozier, an infectious disease specialist, signed on with the World Health Organization and arrived in Kenema, Sierra Leone to help in the fight against the Ebola outbreak in August 2014. Within a few weeks, he himself contracted the disease and was evacuated to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta in critical condition. Crozier and physicians will share their perspective at ARVO 2015 closing session.

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The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) has awarded an additional 59 travel grants to help student/trainee members attend the 2015 Annual Meeting, thanks to a first-time grant to the ARVO Foundation for Eye Research from the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc. (KTEF).

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The motion of coins in a “Penny Pusher” carnival game is similar to the movement of cells in the eye’s lens, as described in a new study published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (IOVS). This new insight may help scientists understand how the eye maintains its precise shape — critical for clear vision — and how cataracts develop.

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Scientists have long known that species such as amphibians and fish can regenerate retinal cells — so why can’t mammals? This and related questions are the premise for the third report from the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation and the International Retinal Research Foundation’s 10-year collaboration, recently published in the ARVO journal Translational Vision Science & Technology (TVST).

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A new study published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (IOVS) has found that chronic (long term) hypertension increases a person’s susceptibility to glaucoma. These results suggest that doctors should consider a patient’s blood pressure levels in managing the potentially blinding eye disorder.

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According to a new poll, Americans across racial and ethnic groups describe losing eyesight as potentially having the greatest impact on their day-to-day life — more so than other conditions, including loss of memory, hearing and speech. A higher percentage of African-Americans (57%) cite this concern compared to non-Hispanic whites (49%), Asians (43%) and Hispanics (38%).

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The 2014 Champalimaud Award recognizes pioneering work to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy, the most important causes of blindness in high and middle income countries. The prize is worth €1 million (U.S. $1.3 million; greater than the Nobel Prize award).

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William F. Mieler, MD, FARVO (University of Illinois at Chicago), is the new president of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). He succeeds Justine Smith, FRANZCO, PhD, FARVO (Flinders University), whose one-year term ended in May following the ARVO Annual Meeting.

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Findings from a new study published in Translational Vision Science & Technology (TVST) show the brain, not the eye, controls the cellular process that leads to glaucoma. The results may help develop treatments for one of the world’s leading causes of irreversible blindness, as well as contribute to the development of future therapies for preserving brain function in other age-related disorders like Alzheimer’s.

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Scientists have developed a computer program to screen for diabetic retinopathy, a potentially blinding condition that may affect every person with diabetes. The research is being presented at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) this week.

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Researchers have found that patients received similar care for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) whether being evaluated by a doctor in-person or remotely. The research is being presented at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) this week in Orlando, Fla.

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In another example of serendipity advancing scientific research, investigators have discovered a new class of drugs to treat an eye condition called nystagmus. The research is being presented at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) this week in Orlando, Fla.

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Scientists have developed a non-invasive technique to determine if individuals carry a gene for an inherited eye disease known as retinitis pigmentosa. The research is being presented at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) this week in Orlando, Fla.

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Scientists have found that pressure from the fluid surrounding the brain plays a role in maintaining proper eye function, opening a new direction for treating glaucoma — the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. The research is being presented at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) this week in Orlando, Fla.

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Researchers have found that, contrary to previous clinical trial findings, monthly injections to counteract age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may not be necessary. The research is being presented at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) this week in Orlando, Fla.

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Scientists have developed the first reversible glue that could be used on the battlefield to treat eye injuries, potentially saving soldiers’ vision. The research is being presented at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) this week in Orlando, Fla.

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Scientists have developed a model that mimics the complex structure of the cornea to enable the transplant of healthy corneal stem cells. The research is being presented at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) this week in Orlando Fla.

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New research finds that cataract surgery dramatically decreases the number of falls individuals suffer due to poor vision. The research is being presented at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) this week in Orlando, Fla.

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In an effort to avoid serious side effects suffered after surgery to repair retinal detachment, vision scientists have developed a new product to help stabilize the eye while it heals. The research is being presented at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) this week in Orlando, Fla.

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In two separate studies, vision scientists have developed healthy genes to prevent blinding diseases that stem from genetic defects. The research is being presented at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) this week in Orlando, Fla

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Aging gracefully may not be an option for the 40 million people worldwide who are blind or have significant visual impairment. It’s reported that 65% of those with visual impairment and 82% of those who are blind are over 50 years of age. In a special issue of Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (IOVS), ophthalmic leaders from around the world address “the aging eye” to focus attention on unmet needs and accelerate the translation of research findings into effective clinical care.

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Holiday travelers will be relieved to know that security threats are rarely encountered at airport checkpoints. But according to a new study published in the Journal of Vision, the low frequency at which trained airport screeners find threats reduces the chances targets will be found.

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Contact lens discomfort may be the leading cause of patient dissatisfaction with, and discontinuation of, contact lens wear throughout the world — but there is little agreement among vision researchers and eye care professionals about how to define and manage its causes. T the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society organized the TFOS International Workshop on Contact Lens Discomfort and findings were reported Friday in the current issue of journal Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (www.iovs.org).

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ARVO Immediate Past President Peng Tee Khaw, MD, PhD, FARVO, is the first member of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) to be knighted in the Queen’s birthday honors. Sir Peng is the only U.K.-based member to have served as president in the association’s 85-year history.

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Justine Smith, FRANZCO, PhD, FARVO (Flinders University), is the new president of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). She succeeds Peng T. Khaw, MD, PhD, FARVO (Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology), whose one-year term ended this month following the ARVO 2013 Annual Meeting.

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The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology is pleased to host three special sessions during the 2013 Annual Meeting (May 5 – 9) in Seattle, Wash. These sessions will take place at the Washington State Convention Center. Sunday, May 5: Results from AREDS2 and Audacious Goals Update Tuesday, May 7: Results from IVAN2 and GEFAL

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A new Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (IOVS) article reveals that increasingly aggressive therapies that block VEGF could cause damage in treating eye diseases. Scientists discovered inhibiting anti-VEGF might have a harmful effect on the tissue responsible for producing the fluid that bathes the eye, medically termed the ciliary body.

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A new study published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science found that between 40 to 50 percent of older adults with visually impairing eye disease limit their activities due to a fear of falling. Vision scientists warn that this protective strategy puts seniors at risk for social isolation and disability.

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Better strategies are needed to help glaucoma patients cope with difficulty reading. According to a new scientific study published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, adults with glaucoma read slower when reading silently for long periods of time and are more likely to have their reading speed decrease over time, possibly a result of reading fatigue.

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Cigarette smoking is a well-known risk factor for a wide-range of diseases. Now, scientists have evidence that smoking may also increase the risk of age-related cataract, the leading cause of blindness and vision loss in the world.

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A new study suggests caffeinated coffee drinkers should limit their intake to reduce their chances of developing vision loss or blindness. According to a scientific paper in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, heavy caffeinated coffee consumption is associated with an increased risk of developing exfoliation glaucoma, the leading cause of secondary glaucoma worldwide

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Studies have consistently reported that women require reading glasses or bifocal lenses earlier than men. According to a recent Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science paper, the gender difference is caused by factors other than focusing ability, such as arm length or preferred reading distance, which should be considered when prescribing readers or bifocals.

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Scientists have found new evidence that people spot a face in the crowd more quickly when teeth are visible — whether smiling or grimacing — than a face with a particular facial expression. The new findings, published in the Journal of Vision, counters the long held “face-in -the-crowd” effect that suggests only angry looking faces are detected more readily in a crowd.

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Viewing Facebook and Flickr photos on a smart phone are becoming common practice. But according to a recently published Journal of Vision study, pictures on the small screen often appear distorted. Vision scientists found that perceptual distortions occur because picture takers do not take their viewing distance into account.

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Peng T. Khaw, MD, PhD, FARVO (Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology) is the new president of the Association of Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). He succeeds Jeffrey Boatright, PhD, FARVO (Emory University School of Medicine), whose one-year term ended in May.

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ARVO is pleased to host a presentation of the one-year results from the U.K.’s Inhibition of VEGF in Age-related Choroidal Neovascularisation (IVAN) study and the two-year results of the Comparison of Age-related Macular Degeneration Treatments Trials (CATT) trial.

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Just because a driver has passed the motor vehicle administration’s vision test may not mean he or she is safe to drive. A recent study found that the frequency and distance at which drivers with moderate levels of blurred vision and cataracts recognize pedestrians at night was severely reduced, even when the drivers have passed the required vision test.

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Wii remotes are not all about fun and games. Scientists can use them to assess and diagnose children with an abnormal head position caused by eye diseases. As described in a recent Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science article, researchers developed a low-cost digital head posture measuring device with Nintendo Wiimotes to help diagnose this condition, medically called ocular torticollis.

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ARVO Foundation for Eye Research (AFER) congratulates the first AFER/Vistakon Dry Eye Fellowship recipients — Andrea Petznick, PhD, and Juan Ding, PhD. Each received $40,000 to support their dry eye research and will be honored at the 2012 ARVO Annual Meeting on Sunday, May 6, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

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The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology is pleased to welcome J. Craig Venter as the keynote speaker at the opening session of ARVO 2012 on Sunday, May 6 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Venter’s presentation is entitled “From Reading to Writing the Genetic Code.”

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ARVO Foundation for Eye Research (AFER) congratulates the first AFER/Genentech Age-related macular Degeneration Fellowship recipients — Balamurali K. Ambati, MD, PhD, and Stephen H. Tsang, MD, PhD. Each received $40,000 to support their age-related macular degeneration (AMD) research and will be honored at the 2012 ARVO Annual Meeting on Sunday, May 6, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

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Seeks manuscripts on innovative discoveries for treating vision disorders.

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Whether comparing a man and a woman or a parent and a baby, we can still see when two people of different age or sex are genetically related. How do we know that people are part of a family? Findings from a new study published in the Journal of Vision increases our understanding of the brain’s ability to see through these underlying variations in facial structure.

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Physical activity may be what the doctor orders to help patients reduce their risk of developing glaucoma. According to a recently published scientific paper, higher levels of physical exercise appear to have a long-term beneficial impact on low ocular perfusion pressure (OPP), an important risk factor for glaucoma.

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Results from a recent scientific study in the U.K. may change the way that healthcare professionals measure eye pressure and allow them to assess the risk of glaucoma with greater accuracy. Glaucoma is the second most common cause of irreversible loss of vision worldwide.

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The vision research community is discussing with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) how to adopt and/or implement safe and effective endpoint measures for assessing glaucoma therapies in U.S. clinical trials. The group — composed of researchers, clinicians, policymakers and representatives from industry and vision associations — attended a one-day symposium sponsored by the National Institutes of Health’s National Eye Institute (NEI) and the FDA on Sept. 24, 2010.

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For the first time, the ARVO Foundation for Eye Research (AFER) will support AMD and dry eye research projects with two new fellowships for investigators under age 45. The AFER/Genentech Age-related Macular Degeneration and AFER and Vistakon Dry Eye fellowships are accepting applications until Sept. 15, 2011. Two individuals will receive $40,000 each for work in these specific areas of research.

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Several reports indicate that prolonged viewing of mobile devices and other stereo 3D devices leads to visual discomfort, fatigue and even headaches. According to a new Journal of Vision study, the root cause may be the demand on our eyes to focus on the screen and simultaneously adjust to the distance of the content.