For individuals facing vision loss due to damage or disease of the cornea—the eye’s clear, front surface—a transplant can mean the difference between darkness and sight. But the success of this delicate procedure depends on the health and quality of donor tissue.

To help address this challenge, Sudhir Verma, Ph.D., a research scientist at the University of Houston College of Optometry, has received an Eversight Eye & Vision Research Grant. The funding will support his ongoing work to improve how donated corneas are preserved before transplant—enhancing tissue viability during storage and increasing the chances of successful surgeries that restore both vision and independence.

“Our goal is to make sure that everyone who needs a corneal transplant has access to healthy, high-quality tissue—regardless of how complex their condition may be,” said Verma. “This grant gives us the opportunity to refine preservation techniques and ultimately improve outcomes for patients who rely on these procedures to restore their sight.”

At the college’s clinical facilities, patients with serious corneal diseases—including limbal stem cell deficiency, a condition that severely limits the eye’s ability to heal—receive ongoing care. These patients often rely on scleral lenses for comfort and clarity, but without effective long-term treatment, their vision continues to decline. “I can think of a few patients in particular who have limbal stem cell deficiencies, and they are among the most vulnerable population that we see wearing scleral lenses,” said Dr. Maria Walker, a clinical faculty member at the UH College of Optometry. “It is disheartening to manage them, because while scleral lenses help, the disease usually continues to worsen—and I’ve never seen it improve. Many of these patients slowly lose vision over time as their corneas become cloudy. Successful implementation of this kind of research could completely change their prognosis. Instead of just managing the disease, we could actually help them heal.”

Verma’s research builds on the college’s dual mission of advancing science and providing high-quality patient care. Since joining the College of Optometry in 2022 and advancing to research scientist in 2024, he has focused on understanding how corneal cells remain healthy and capable of regeneration. With support from Eversight, he will now work to translate those insights into practical improvements for eye banks and transplant centers.

“Sudhir’s innovative approach has the potential to transform outcomes for patients who receive corneal transplants,” said Dr. Vivien Coulson-Thomas, a principal investigator and faculty mentor. “This work will help ensure more people regain their vision—and with it, their independence and quality of life.”

Dr. Tarsis Ferreira Gesteira, also a principal investigator, echoed the significance of the work: “By improving how donor corneas are preserved, we’re directly impacting lives. This research is about more than just technique—it’s about restoring hope and helping people reconnect with their world through the gift of sight.”

As this work moves forward, it brings renewed hope to patients whose vision—and quality of life—depend on the success of a transplant.