Occular Biology

The faculty in this area study the structure and function of the various components of the eye under normal and pathologic conditions. Cornea research topics include studies of normal cornea, corneal biomechanics, mechanisms of cornea wound healing, ocular surface inflammation and infection, meibomian gland disease, keratoconus, and ocular surface development. Retina research includes studies of normal function as well as pathologic and degenerative effects of specific diseases on the retina such as diabetes and glaucoma. Studies on the mechanisms and development of myopia focus on several components of the eye, including retina, sclera, and choroid. Ocular biology research in the college of optometry uses state of the art cell and molecular biology approaches including high-resolution imaging in vivo, in vitro, and in postmortem tissues as appropriate. These investigations are conducted in patients and in human subjects, as well as in animal models of eye disease in rodents, non-human primates, and zebrafish.

Faculty in Ocular Biology