Research Programs

• Amblyopia Treatment
• Evaluation of Keratoconus (CLEK)
• Convergence Insufficiency Treatment (CITT)
• Correction of Myopia (COMET)
• Correction of Myopia (COMET2)
• Myopia in COMET Children (COSMICC)
• IVI Research
• Molecular Mechanisms
• Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS)
• Vision Screening in Preschoolers

Institute for the Visually Impaired (IVI)

The IVI program houses a wide variety of educational, clinical and research personnel devoted to working on the problems of partial sight (low vision). These funding initiatives cover such topics as: vision rehabilitation therapy, low vision rehabilitation and orientation and mobility.

The Institute for Vision Impairment (IVI) reported on a number of research activities. Research in macular loss and reading has resulted in an evaluation tool for assessing reading skills, an expert system based instructional program for professionals and a number of studies dealing with the psychophysical measurement of central scotomas and their impact on performance. These include:

1. The factors that impact the choice of reading medium (optical devices, Braille, computer technology) for successful and unsuccessful readers, especially as these factors impact on literacy;
2. Several completed projects developed and field-tested curricular materials to be used to teach children and adults with visual impairments;
3. The evaluation of visual environmental factors that impact on performance in the workplace and the associated accommodations for remediation of performance difficulties;
4. The investigation of knowledge utilization processes and how dissemination of information to professionals and consumers can be utilized;
5. The differences between the perceived mobility problems of persons with low vision and their orientation and mobility instructors;
6. The product evaluation of new innovative optical devices and equipment for persons with low vision. This has included clinical evaluation of the auto focus telescope and scanning laser ophthalmoscope with micro perimetry and visuometry that can lead to identification of areas of best functional vision.
7. The effect of short term training on enhancing educator’s knowledge of low vision.
8. In conjunction with the Mississippi Research and Training Center at Mississippi State University, faculty conducted three projects related to increasing literacy levels for persons who are visually impaired: (1) literacy and choice of access to print; (2) an analysis of available training curricula for reading modes and teaching reading for persons with vision Impairment, and (3) a meta-analysis of literacy and persons with vision impairment. IVI Director: Audrey Smith, Ph.D.