Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

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
Research assistant Sariah D’Empaire Salomon (front) positions a BIHF, ensuring that all sensors and the helmet are appropriately positioned, while engineer Janette Meyer, PhD, double-checks the sensors and their connections. (photo by Harrison McClary/Vanderbilt University)
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
Paul Sternberg Jr., MD
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 25, 2024

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

Protect the eye on the 4th of July
By Jessica Pasley
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
April 19, 2024

A ‘Site’ for Sore Eyes

Four years ago, Roger Lasater went outside to look at the stars and the moon and couldn't see them. He was was in the beginning stages of age-related macular degeneration, one of the many eye diseases studied by physician-scientists at the Vanderbilt Eye Institute.
By Nancy Humphrey
March 26, 2024

Keep an eye on safety during April 8 solar eclipse

Eye safety should be a priority when viewing the eclipse on April 8.
By Nancy Humphrey
February 21, 2024

International genetic study of glaucoma implicates vascular and cancer-related genes

An international genetic study using multiancestry biobanks has identified novel genetic locations associated with primary open-angle glaucoma, the most common type of glaucoma and the leading cause of irreversible blindness globally.
By Leigh MacMillan
November 22, 2023

National study of two surgical interventions for exotropia shows no detectable difference

A study comparing two surgical methods for repairing childhood intermittent exotropia (a common form of strabismus or eye misalignment, in which one or both eyes sometimes turn outward) were unable to detect a significant difference in the two methods.
By Nancy Humphrey
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