Envision Researchers Lead the Way in Advancing Vision Care
By Beth Walker • Aug 26, 2024
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Barton’s research project, funded by the Lucier Family Fund, focuses on the analytical evaluation and perceived benefits of novel mobile telemedicine devices and is now in the data acquisition phase of research. These devices aim to provide an efficient mechanism for physicians to obtain diagnostic images of the inner eye from geographically remote or atypical locations.
Barton shares, “I recently began the process of interviewing a variety of eye-care professionals and more “tertiary” roles in vision care that could use these devices, such as army medics or emergency room doctors. In these interviews, they are providing their opinions and insight on mobile ophthalmic devices, how they can be used in the field, and how they could have their design improved.”
Gopalakrishnan will be the first person in the world to publish research papers describing and comparing three different augmented reality devices that aim to help improve visual function for people with low vision. She has been traveling throughout the summer of 2024, visiting with many professionals in low vision doing research work in Augmented and Virtual Reality.
From California to Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio and New York, Gopalakrishnan took away valuable techniques to apply to the next phase of her research. These visits included institutions such as: the Smith Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, the University of California Johns Hopkins University, Schepens Eye Research Institute, SUNY College of Optometry, and the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Gopalakrishnan has also accepted a post-doctoral research fellowship at the University of Montreal, funded by the Envision Research Institute.
Gopalakrishnan shares, “I wanted to gain opinions from professionals in low vision having expertise in AR and VR, on if my research has been successful and what I can do moving forward to improve my processes and goals.”
Babu, whose research project is titled, "Workforce Engagement: A Survey of Employment-Related Decisions and Outcomes of Working Age, Legally Blind Adults,” addresses the unemployment problem facing Americans with vision loss. It is a multi-year project that aims to explore ways to enhance the labor force participation and employment outcomes among working-age adults who are legally blind.
Babu shares, “Presently, I am piloting the research strategy for a nationwide survey to investigate the barriers and motivators of labor force participation for working age adults who are legally blind. It will also compare people with early onset vision loss versus those of late onset vision loss. Ultimately, this research will develop best practices and programs to draw a greater proportion of Americans with legal blindness into the labor market, create and enabling a work environment where blindness is no bar, and will guide government policies on incentivizing work as opposed to disability benefits for sustaining life as an adult with vision loss.”
Learn more about the Envision Research Institute.