The National Eye Institute has recently released a compendium of the “Needs, Gaps, and Opportunities in Vision Research.” The report reviews highlights of recent progress in vision research and identifies directions for future research in six major areas: Retinal Diseases; Corneal Diseases; Lens and Cataract; Glaucoma and Optic Neuropathies; Strabismus, Amblyopia, and Visual Processing; and, Low Vision and Blindness Rehabilitation.
Rohit Varma, MD, MPH, Professor and Chair of the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, UIC Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, co-chaired the panel on Glaucoma and Optic Neuropathies with Donald Zack, MD, PhD, of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
The needs, gaps and opportunities for research identified by each of the panels can be found by clicking on the following links.
- Retinal Diseases
- Corneal Diseases
- Lens and Cataract
- Glaucoma and Optic Neuropathies
- Strabismus, Amblyopia, and Visual Processing
- Low Vision and Blindness Rehabilitation
Paul A. Sieving, MD, PhD, Director of the National Eye Institute, remarked upon the many opportunities created by substantial advances in both new and traditional research areas represented by the new report. “It represents the critical first step in our efforts to identify the broad spectrum of vision research priorities,” he stated. “It will also increase public awareness of the importance of vision research and the accomplishments that the vision research community has delivered in recent years.” Dr. Sieving earned his MD at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and his PhD in Bioengineering at the University of Illinois. He completed his residency in ophthalmology at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary from 1979-1982.