Research in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences contributes to a greater understanding of the visual process and the causes of vision loss. Investigations are laboratory- and patient -based, ranging from studies of single molecules and their role in the visual process to evaluations of rehabilitation therapy for people living with impaired vision.

The basic sciences represented in the Department include cell and molecular biology, chemistry and biochemistry, electrophysiology, immunology, microbiology, nanotechnology, neuroscience, pharmacology, genomics, physics, physiology and psychophysics. Vision research is supported by many sponsored programs, including a Core Grant for Vision Research and a Clinician Scientist Training Grant both from the National Eye Institute.