Optometry Commons^™

Focal Choroidal Excavation Associated With Resolved Central Serous Chorioretinopathy, Loren W. Bennett Od, Katherine M. Mehalik Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background: Focal choroidal excavation is a localized concavity of the choroid within the macula defined by its appearance on optical coherence tomography. The condition is typically nonprogressive and often an incidental finding. It may not impact vision, although it can be associated with other visually significant macular pathologies.

Case Report: A 48-year-old male patient presented with a recent history of blurred vision in the left eye. A dilated fundus examination revealed a discrete area of pigment mottling in the macula; both the history and clinical appearance were consistent with resolved central serous chorioretinopathy. Optical coherence tomography did not show residual …

We Are Each One Second Away From Being Someone Else's Patient, Paul B. Freeman Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Editorial

Birdshot Chorioretinopathy: A Review Of Diagnosis And Treatment, Jill Gottehrer Od, Steven Follansbee Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background: Birdshot chorioretinopathy is a rare, bilateral chronic uveitis resulting in choroidal and retinal inflammation in the form of vasculitis, papillitis, and/or macular edema. For an accurate diagnosis, a thorough patient history, fundoscopic exam, and appropriate ancillary testing are necessary.

Case Report: A 49-year-old male presented to the eye clinic due to vitreous floaters in both eyes that had worsened over the last year. The patient was new to the clinic with no prior history of eye examinations. At presentation, a mild vitritis was noted along with small, multiple white dots in the posterior pole of both eyes. Ancillary testing, …

A Case Of Adolescent Papilledema Secondary To Oral Hormonal Contraceptives, John D. Tassinari Od, Phil Kwok Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background: Papilledema, optic disc swelling secondary to elevated intracranial pressure (ICP), is a medical emergency given the gravity of possible disease etiologies, including but not limited to intracranial mass.

Case Report: A 12-year-old female with normal body mass index developed marked headaches and subsequently manifested bilateral swelling of the optic discs and retinal folds. Scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, particularly in the fundus autofluorescence mode, provided a striking image of the retinal folds. The posterior segment abnormalities were accompanied by reduced visual acuity and corresponding visual field defects. The edema of the optic nerve and retinal fluid were worse in her left …

Eating For Healthy Eyes: The Role Of Nutrition In Ocular Health, Brianna Stroh

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The central research question of this thesis asks: How does nutrition influence ocular health overall and the impact of nutrition on the development or progression of common eye diseases? Building upon existing research in optometry/ophthalmology, nutrition science, and public health, this project examines the physiological mechanisms linking diet to eye health and evaluates how specific nutrients and dietary patterns contribute to disease prevention and visual function. This thesis employs a comprehensive review of peer-reviewed literature to evaluate the relationship between nutrition and ocular disease. Key areas of focus include the role of oxidative stress in eye disease development, the protective …

Novel Retinal Biomarker Development In Early Alzheimer’S Disease, Swetha Ravichandran

ETDs from 2020-2029

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that causes damage to the neurons that are present in the brain. Progress in the management and treatment of AD is limited by lack of early diagnostics, which are critical to the development of effective therapies. It is therefore critical to develop non-invasive/cost efficient biomarkers to aid in early diagnosis and interventions to prevent or delay dementia onset. While Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and cerebrospinal fluid assessment have greatest utility, they are not routinely used because they are expensive and invasive, respectively. Retinal imaging offers a promising, low-cost, and non-invasive avenue for detecting …

Relationship Between Corneal Biomechanics In Sjögren’S Disease And Risk Factors For Glaucoma Development, Isabella Grace Simmons

ETDs from 2020-2029

Both Sjögren’s disease and glaucoma are known to have abnormal corneal biomechanics that impact their disease progression. The pathophysiology of Sjögren’s disease may also increase the likelihood of developing glaucoma. However, we do not yet know whether the prevalence of risk factors associated with glaucoma in Sjögren’s patients is due to underlying weakened corneal biomechanics. Oculus Corvis ST will be used to evaluate the corneal biomechanics in Sjögren’s patients in relation to the inflammatory mediators in the tear film. These properties will then be correlated with retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell layer thickness. Evaluating these findings will provide …

Holographic Sensors For The Detection Of Volatile Organic Compounds, Graceson Antony

Doctoral

Volatile organic compound (VOC) monitoring at parts-per-million (ppm) concentration levels is essential for occupational safety, indoor air quality, and regulatory compliance. Although holographic gas sensors have been widely investigated, most operate in reflection mode as qualitative visual indicators, with limited quantitative evaluation of sensing mechanisms and scarce systematic demonstrations of repeatable multi-cycle validation for VOCs at ppm concentrations. A physics-based optimisation framework for transmission-mode holographic gas sensors which can bridge this gap has remained largely undeveloped.

This thesis presents the development and optimisation of real-time transmission-mode volume phase transmission holographic grating (VPTHG) sensors for ppm-level VOC detection. A comprehensive theoretical …

Point Of Care Ultrasound For Rapid Identification Of Central Retinal Artery Occlusion And Subsequent Vision Rescue Utilizing Intravenous Alteplase, Joseph Pepe, Karl Kasischke, Calen Hart

Florida Journal of Emergency Medicine (FJEM)

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is a rare but critical diagnosis to make in patients with acute vision loss. Cases of central retinal artery occlusion historically have a poor prognosis due to delayed presentation, lack of early identification, and limited effective treatment options. Due to these challenges, patients are often left with permanent loss of vision.

We present a case of a male patient in his late 70s with sudden onset of loss of vision to the right eye. Identification of CRAO was made utilizing point of care ultrasound (POCUS). After discussion with neurology, the patient was treated with alteplase …

Through The Eyes Of Time, Shaneece Prince, Steven Indelicato

Publications and Research

Frames have been a staple throughout history, however in recent times, a trend of having multiple pairs of glasses opposed to one, life lasting pair, has emerged. As a result, frames have piled up in landfills contributing to the polluting of our environment. Through the analysis of previously recorded studies and statistics, conclusions of the eyewear industry's growing impact on society and the planet were formed.

Millions of frames are in constant circulation, studies show that up to 31% of spectacle wearers out of a group of 375, disposed of their eyewear in the trash. The lifespan of popular eyewear …

Translational Research On Color Vision: From Mechanisms To Performance Enhancement In Diverse Settings, Jewearly Lundby

Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation investigated the mechanisms and applications for optimizing color vision performance across diverse contexts. In a world where color cues augment critical decisions to optimize performance and safety in transportation (e.g., aviation, railway), military, law enforcement, medical diagnostics, and myriad occupational tasks, deficiencies in color perception pose significant challenges. By uniting four interrelated studies, this work explored intrinsic retinal processes, assistive technologies for deficiencies, and novel pathways that challenge conventional understandings of vision. The research bridged fundamental vision science with applications in occupational settings, low vision rehabilitation, and clinical diagnostics, ultimately aiming to optimize color performance.

The first study …

Thank You To Our 2024/2025 Reviewers, Paul B. Freeman Od, Brian K. Foutch Od, Phd

Optometric Clinical Practice

Reviewers

Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion After Covid-19, Danielle Kalberer Od, Mba, Grace Tan Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background: A healthy, 39-year-old male patient presented with sudden onset, painless vision loss of the right eye’s superior visual field two months after a mild case of COVID-19.

Case Report: The patient was diagnosed with an acute branch retinal artery occlusion and referred to the emergency department for prompt evaluation. When the emergency workup was unremarkable the patient was referred to cardiology and hematology and follow up with a retinal specialist. The exhaustive systemic work-up was unremarkable other than recent COVID-19. Retinal perfusion to the affected area resumed in the weeks after the incident but irreversible vision loss occurred.

Conclusion: …

Ocular Myasthenia Gravis: A Case Report, Erica Vanderpool Od, Carla Gilbertson Kuiken Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease caused by faulty transmission at the neuromuscular junction leading to fatigable muscular weakness. Ocular MG is distressing in that it can cause visual difficulties, but generalized MG can be life-threatening. MG is an acquired disorder that can easily be overlooked in clinic and is commonly misdiagnosed. Providers should be aware of the clinical features of this condition, as well as the critical testing needed to confirm the diagnosis so the appropriate management course can be implemented.

Case Report: This case features a 67-year-old Caucasian male diagnosed with ocular myasthenia gravis …

Treatment Considerations For Early Primary Open Angle Glaucoma In Active-Duty Military, Ridwan Carim-Sanni Od, Danielle Kalberer Od, Mba

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background: Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. The tools available to treat glaucoma via intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction include pharmacological therapy or surgical intervention.

Case Report: This case study explores these tools in the context of glaucoma in active-duty military personnel. It involves an active-duty army patient diagnosed with early Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) who was initially prescribed IOP-lowering medication. Barriers in treatment compliance occurred while the patient was deployed that led to significant glaucomatous changes detected when the patient returned stateside.

Conclusion: This report suggests a shift from the traditional pharmacological …

Cryopreserved Amniotic Membrane For Corneal Epithelial Abrasions: Case Series, Laura Goldberg Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Background: Corneal abrasions are one of the most frequent ocular conditions encountered in the emergency department and can lead to significant morbidity and visual impairment. Amniotic membrane has inherent anti-inflammatory and anti-scarring properties that help accelerate epithelialization and help prevent the complications known to be associated with corneal injuries. Herein we assessed the time till complete epithelialization after in-office application of cryopreserved amniotic membrane in cases of traumatic corneal abrasions in the acute setting.

Case Reports: A total of ten eyes (5 right eye; 5 left eye) of ten consecutive patients (8 Male; 2 Female; average age 40.9 ± 17.8 …

The Art Of Prescribing Low Amounts Of Prism: Optimizing Outcomes, Leonard J. Press Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Expanding the Box

Learning From Our Future Colleagues, One Case At A Time, Paul B. Freeman Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Editorial

Biallelic Loss-Of-Function Variants In C19orf44 Lead To Retinal Degeneration, Hafiz Muhammad Jafar Hussain, Wang Meng, Yumei Li, Sabika Firasat, Mark E Pennesi, Michael B Gorin, Bin Guan, Rebecca Lynn Clark, Emma Fale-Olsen, Ranya Al Rawi, Aime Agather, Laryssa A Huryn, Paul Yang, Anna Matynia, Rui Chen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are a group of disorders often resulting in progressive vision loss, ultimately leading to blindness. A significant portion of their genetic causes remain unresolved, partly due to undiscovered disease-associated genes or variants. This study aimed to identify novel genetic links to IRDs.

Methods: All patients underwent comprehensive ophthalmological evaluation, including retinal imaging (fundus autofluorescence and macular optical coherence tomography) and electroretinogram testing. Whole exome sequencing and whole genome sequencing were performed on patients with clinically unsolved IRD, and data were analysed using an in-house pipeline to identify causal variants. Subsequently, Sanger sequencing was performed to …

Eye On The Prize: Expanding Student Awareness Of Optometry As A Profession, Lorena Flores-Hernandez

MedEd Teaching Certificate Program

The proposed Doctor of Optometry program at UTRGV has the potential to positively enhance the ocular health of our communities. Implementing an outreach program highlighting a career path in optometry will be essential for the future of eyecare in the Rio Grande Valley.

According to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the optometric workforce is projected to grow over the next decade. The increased demand for optometrists is related to multiple factors including an aging population with chronic diseases and a nationwide shortage of ophthalmology practitioners.

Nationally, the Optometry Gives Me Life campaign, launched by the Association of …