Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

December 2, 2025

Study seeks to determine best way to treat myopia in children

Researchers hope to slow the progression of this chronic eye disease that affects approximately 40% of the U.S. population.

By Jessica Pasley
September 22, 2025

NIH grant renewal signals bright outlook for Vanderbilt vision research

The Vanderbilt Vision Research Center was founded in 1989 and secured the National Eye Institute core grant that still supports it; the grant will provide approximately $3.3 million over the current five-year funding period.

By Leigh MacMillan
Tonia Rex, PhD, left, Lori Ann Kehler, OD, Brad Turner and Tennessee Sen. Jeff Yarbro pose for a photo at the Project PAVE check presentation. (photo by Donn Jones)
August 20, 2025

Tennessee grant ensures continued visual services for students through Project PAVE  

Project PAVE (Providing Access to the Visual Environment) was established in 1993 as a collaborative program between the Tennessee Department of Education, Lions Clubs of Tennessee and Vanderbilt University.

By Holly Fletcher
July 1, 2025

Fireworks and sparklers are lots of fun, but they can cause terrible injuries; how to celebrate safely

Protect the eye on the Fourth of July

By Jessica Pasley
April 1, 2025

Castiglione lab discovers horses run faster by ignoring an ancient mutation that says ‘stop’

How did horses overcome this challenge? The answer seems to be by using a genetic trick previously thought to occur only in viruses.

By Andy Flick
John S. Penn, PhD
March 7, 2025

BrightFocus Foundation announces appointment of John Penn to board of directors

A leader in the field of retinal disease research, Penn has been continuously funded as a principal investigator by the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health since 1984.

February 26, 2025

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine fifth in the nation in NIH research funding

The NIH is the world’s largest public funder of biomedical research. VUSM, which received $586 million in direct and indirect NIH grant support in FY24, has been among the top 10 recipients of NIH funding among U.S. medical schools for nine of the past 15 years.
By Bill Snyder
February 13, 2025

Researchers simulate battlefield blast exposures to reduce impact on soldiers

The military was interested in finding ways to reduce impact on the brain by developing strategies that could be employed during training exercises.
By Craig Boerner
January 6, 2025

VUMC study shows identifying changes in vision may be sufficient to diagnose mild TBI

In both military and civilian populations, when TBI patients are asked to fill out a symptom inventory, about 80% of them will self-report difficulty reading or other vision problems.
By Nancy Humphrey
November 8, 2024

VUMC plays active role in training today’s military medical personnel

Vanderbilt University Medical Center is extensively involved in partnerships with the military that both assist individuals as they transition out of service to be civilian veterans and help active-duty military medical personnel maintain their critical skills needed during deployment.
By Jill Clendening
September 4, 2024

Sternberg elected to key leadership roles for the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology

Sternberg has a long history of leadership in ophthalmology, including serving as president of the AUPO, president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, president of the Macula Society and chair of the Board of Governors for the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Foundation.
By Nancy Humphrey
June 5, 2024

A novel astrocyte cell in the retina: study

A full understanding of retinal cell types and their functions could point to novel therapeutic targets for diseases that affect the visual system, such as glaucoma — a leading cause of blindness for people over age 60.
By Leigh MacMillan
April 22, 2024

Sean Donahue to become president of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus

Sean Donahue, MD, PhD, Sam and Darthea Coleman Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, will become president of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus in July.
By Nancy Humphrey