OPT Visionary - Fall 2016

COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY • 27 Research Study Focuses on Vitreomacular Adhesion Julie Rodman , O.D., M.Sc. , FAAO, associate professor, is the principal investigator of “The Prevalence of Vitreomacular Adhesion in Patients 40 Years and Older (VAST)” research study. Funded by ThromboGenics, Optovue, Carl Zeiss Meditec, and Nova Southeastern University, the research team includes NSUCO faculty members, as well as those from Indiana University College of Optometry, Pacific Univer- sity College of Optometry, and nationwide private optometry and ophthalmology practices. As a person gets older, the vitreous gel—the clear gel between the lens and the retina—in the eye commonly separates from the retina. Vitreomacular adhesion (VMA) is a condition in which, instead of separating, the vitreous gel adheres to the retina in an abnormally strong manner. This can distort a person’s vision and result in vitreomacular traction (VMT), which can cause eye damage. Early VMA detection can help prevent damage and improve a person’s visual prognosis. VAST is a prospective, cross-sectional study looking at the prevalence of VMA and VMT in a diverse group of subjects over the age of 40. Secondary analyses will include correlations between the presence of VMA/VMT and gender, ethnicity, or refractive error. Identifying the prevalence of vitreomacular adhesion and its associated complications will yield valuable, new epidemiologic data, leading to improved diagnosis and management of patients with this condition. During the past two decades, with the emergence of high-resolution scanning devices, such as optical coherence tomography imaging systems, there is a greater understanding of the pathophysiology of the disorders of the vitreomacular interface and their role in the development of various maculopathies. Detection, management, and proper treatment are crucial steps in securing an optimal outcome for patients. Historically, there have been limited epidemiological studies reported in the literature on the prevalence of vitreomacular adhesion, result- ing in a significant gap in the literature regarding this entity. u interventions to improve ocular-retinal blood flow and visual function in retinitis pigmentosa. Bittner has served as a coinvestigator on multicenter clinical trials of devices for patients with retinal degenerations, including VisionCare’s implantable miniature telescope for age-related macular degeneration, Optobionics’ Artificial Silicon Retina for retinitis pigmentosa, and Second Sight’s Argus II retinal prosthesis for retinitis pigmentosa. She has also served as a consultant for QLT, Inc.-sponsored international clinical trials evaluating treatment for patients with inherited retinal disease. In 2010–2011, Bittner received the Ameri- can Academy of Optometry William C. Ezell Fellowship. Additionally, she has been a member of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) since 2002 and served on the ARVO Annual Meeting Program Commit- tee from 2011 to 2014. Bittner, who was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society in 2011, has published 25 peer-reviewed articles in highly regarded scientific journals, such as the Journal of the American Medical Association , The Lancet , Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science , the British Journal of Ophthalmology , Retina , and Optometry and Vision Science . u