Speakers
Dr Frank Eperjesi
Duane R. Geruschat, Ph.D.
Aries Arditi, PhD
Krister Inde, BA, Low Vision Therapist
Dr Michael Crossland PhD MCOptom FAAO
Eli Peli. MSc, OD
Robert W. Massof, PhD
Sven Erik G. Nilsson, M.D., Ph.D.
James S W Wolffsohn, PhD
Dr. Bruce Rosenthal OD FAOO
Ian Bailey Ph.D
Dr. Mary Lou Jackson, MD
Amy Horowitz , Ph.D
Dr Frank Eperjesi
Dr Eperjesi BSc (Hons) PhD MCOptom FAAO Dip Orth PGCertHE FHEA
Dr Eperjesi graduated in Optometry at Aston University and completed his pre-registration period at the Birmingham and Midland Eye Hospital followed by a further five years in the NHS at The Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Heartlands Hospital and the Birmingham and Midland Eye Hospital specialising in paediatrics and low vision. He then split his practice work between the Institute of Child Welfare in Birmingham, Focus on Blindness and the Institute of Optometry in London along with sessions for all the major optometry multiples. At this time Dr Eperjesi also worked towards a PhD at Aston University which he successfully completed in 2000 when he became a lecturer on the Optometry Programme. Following positions as first, second and final year tutor and success in a post graduate teaching certificate he became a Senior Lecturer and Programme Director in 2005 with responsibility for the day-to-day co-ordination of the Optometry programme and more recently Director of the Graduate Diploma in Optometry. He is leader for the final year module Binocular Vision and the Binocular Vision/Learning Difficulties Clinic. His research revolves around the relationship between diet and long term eye health with particular interest in the investigation and manipulation of macular pigment optical density and nutritional affects on the tear film. Dr Eperjesi is a Visiting Lecturer on the Occupational Health MSc programme at Birmingham University and on the Optometry Programme at Al Shifa Eye Trust, Rawalpindi, Pakistan as well as being on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Optometry and the British Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness. He successfully completed a Masters in Business Administration at Aston University earlier this year.
Duane R. Geruschat, Ph.D.
Duane R. Geruschat, Ph.D.
Research Associate of Ophthalmology, JHU School of Medicine Wilmer Eye Institute, Lions Vision Center Research Interest: Orientation and mobility
Aries Arditi, PhD
Aries Arditi, PhD
Senior Fellow in Vision Science
Lighthouse International
New York
Krister Inde, BA, Low Vision Therapist
Krister Inde, BA, Low Vision Therapist
Sweden
Dr Michael Crossland PhD MCOptom FAAO
Dr Michael Crossland PhD MCOptom FAAO UCL Institute of Ophthalmology
Dr Michael Crossland is a Research Fellow in Visual Neuroscience at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and a Specialist Optometrist at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK. He received his PhD from the University of London in 2004, for work performed with Professor Gary Rubin on the visual performance of people with macular disease. His major research interest is in the psychophysics of visual impairment with particular reference to reading, fixation behaviour and detection of macular disease. His major clinical interest is low vision rehabilitation of people with visual field loss from macular disease or neurological scotomas. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and a Member of the College of Optometrists, UK.
London
Eli Peli. MSc, OD
Dr. Peli is Senior Scientist and the Moakley Scholar in Aging Eye Research at The Schepens Eye Research Institute, and Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School. He also serves on the faculties of the New England College of Optometry (Adjunct Professor of Optometry and Visual Sciences), Tufts University School of Medicine (Adjunct Professor of Ophthalmology), and University of York, UK (Honorary Visiting Professor in the Department of Electronics). Since 1983 he has been caring for visually impaired patients as the director of the Vision Rehabilitation Service at the New England Medical Center Hospitals in Boston. Dr. Peli is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, a Fellow of the Optical Society of America, a Fellow of the SID (Society for Information Display), and a Fellow of the SPIE (The International Society of Optical Engineering). He was presented the 2001 Glenn A. Fry Lecture Award and the 2009 William Feinbloom Award by the American Academy of Optometry, the 2004 Alfred W. Bressler Prize in Vision Science (shared with Dr. R. Massof) by the Jewish Guild for the Blind, the 2006 Pisart Vision Award by the Lighthouse International, and the 2009 Alcon Research Institute award (shared with Dr. R. Massof). He was awarded a Honorary Degree of Master in Medicine by Harvard Medical School in 2002 and a Honorary Doctor of Science Degree from the State University of New York (SUNY) in 2006. Dr. Peli's principal research interests are image processing in relation to visual function and clinical psychophysics in low vision rehabilitation, image understanding and evaluation of display-vision interaction. He also maintains an interest in oculomotor control and binocular vision. Dr. Peli is a consultant to many companies in the ophthalmic instrumentation area and to manufacturers of head mounted displays (HMD). He serves as a consultant on many national committees, advising the National Institutes of Health and NASA AOS (Aviation Operations Systems) advisory committee. Dr. Peli has published more than 140 scientific papers and has been awarded 8 US Patents. He also edited a book entitled Visual Models for Target Detection with special emphasis on military applications and coauthored a book entitled Driving with Confidence: A Practical Guide to Driving with Low Vision (coauthored with Doron Peli).
Robert W. Massof, PhD
Robert W. Massof, PhD
Awards
Fellow, Optical Society of America, 1984
Manpower Award, Research to Prevent Blindness, 1989
Award of Excellence in Technology Transfer, NASA Technology Utilization Foundation, 1992
National Design and Engineering Award, Popular Mechanics Magazine, 1994
Discover Award for Technological Innovation Finalist, Discover Magazine, 1994
Golden Quill Award, EyeCare Technology Magazine, 1994
Richard E. Hoover Service Award for Professional Excellence in Low Vision, 1995
Life-Time Achievement Award, EyeCare Technology Magazine, 1995
Education
B.A. Hamiline University, St. Paul, MN 1970
Ph.D. Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 1975
Post Doctoral Fellowship, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 1976
Appointments
Professor of Ophthalmology
Professor of Neuroscience
Lecturer Department of Computer Science (School of Engineering)
Sven Erik G. Nilsson, M.D., Ph.D.
Sven Erik G. Nilsson, M.D., Ph.D.
M.D. 1961; Ph.D. 1964, The Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Assistant Professor, Dept of Cell Biology,Univ. of California, Los Angeles, 1962-64.
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, 1969-71.
Professor of Ophthalmology and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology,
Linkoping University, Sweden,1972-96;Professor of Ophthalmology 1997-.
Associate Dean and Dean, School of Medicine, Linkoping University, 1974-77.
Selected Scientific Awards
The Axel Hirsch Award, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, 1972.
The Medical Students' Award for Outstanding Teaching, Linkoping Univ. 1975.
The Order of His Majesty, the King of Sweden, for outstanding scientific and teaching achievements in the field of Ophthalmology, 1999.
The Science Award from Halland’s Academy for an outstanding career in ophthalmic science, 2001.
Bibliography:
About 3000 scientific publications, including abstracts, mainly on retinal and pigment epithelial electrophysiology and ultrastructure, on age-related macular degeneration, on low vision rehabilitation and on contact lens research.
James S W Wolffsohn, PhD
James S W Wolffsohn, PhD studied Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics at UMIST, Manchester, UK, achieving a 1st class degree. He qualified to practice Optometry independently following a pre-registration year Moorfield’s Eye Hospital, London. Following this, James completed a PhD on at Cardiff University. He commenced a clinical / research position at the Victorian College of Optometry / University of Melbourne, Australia in 1997. In 2000, he returned to the UK and a position at Aston University, where he is now Head of Optometry and was awarded a personal Chair in 2007. James’ research and teaching interests mainly revolve around intraocular lenses, contact lenses, low vision and the measurement of accommodation, having published over 90 peer reviewed academic papers and given numerous international presentations. James is also a past President of the British Contact Lens Association. He has recently published the “Low Vision Manual” with Prof Jonathan Jackson and an Eye Essentials Series book “Imaging”. http://www.aston.ac.uk/lhs/staff/az-index/wolffjsw/
Dr. Bruce Rosenthal OD FAOO
Dr. Bruce Rosenthal OD FAOO
Lighthouse International
New York City
Dr. Bruce P. Rosenthal is the Chief of the Low Vision Clinical Practice at Lighthouse International in New York City. He is also a Professor and Chief of Low Vision Service at the Mt. Sinai Faculty Practice Plan and Distinguished Adjunct Professor at the State University of New York. He currently serves on the Executive Board of the AMD Alliance International as well as being the Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board. He is the Chair of the Low Vision Section of the American Optometric Association, a Diplomate in low vision of the American Academy Optometry as well as being a past-chair of both the Low Vision Section Low Vision Diplomate programs.
Dr. Rosenthal has received many prestigious awards for his work in low vision at home and around the world including the Bietti Award from the IAPB (Italian branch of the International Association for the Blind) and the highest award given by the American Academy of Optometry, the William Feinbloom award. His lecturing has taken him around the world including China, Dubai, Singapore, and South Africa. He has, as well, been involved in the publication of many scientific publications as well as being the Editor or Co-editor of eight books on low vision including The Lighthouse Oxford Press Handbook on Vision Impairment and Vision Rehabilitation.
Ian L. Bailey is professor of optometry and vision science and director of the Low Vision Clinic for the School of Optometry, University of California, Berkeley. He has been one of the pioneers in the development of many of today’s more scientifically based approaches to visual acuity measurement and the prescribing of low vision aids, publishing numerous articles or chapters in the scientific and professional literature. Bailey was chair of the low vision section and the low vision diplomat program of the American Academy of Optometry. He served for 10 years on the National Research Council’s Committee on Vision as the joint representative of the American Optometric Association and the American Academy of Optometry. Bailey served for eight years on the editorial board of Optometry and Vision Science. He has a higher diploma of the British Optical Association from the City University in London, an MS from Indiana University, and a diploma in low vision from the American Academy of Optometry.
Dr. Mary Lou Jackson, MD
Dr. Mary Lou Jackson is a vision rehabilitation specialist at the Harvard School of Medicine affiliate Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston. Dr. Jackson also is chairperson of the American Academy of Ophthalmology Vision Rehabilitation Committee.
Her areas of special research interest include contrast sensitivity and visual hallucinations associated with vision impairment.
Dr. Jackson attended medical school at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario and completed her residency in ophthalmology at University of Toronto in Ontario.
Amy Horowitz, Ph.D
Education
1982 D.S.W. Columbia University School of Social Work; NY, NY (Research, Gerontology)
1974 M.S.W. Fordham University Graduate School of Social Services; NY, NY (Research, Social Work Practice)
1971 B.A. in Sociology Boston University; Boston, Massachusetts
Research Interests
• Adaptation to disability in later life
• Depression and mental health interventions
• Family caregiving to disabled older adults
• Geriatric rehabilitation
• Age-related sensory loss
Recent Grants
“Depression, Disability & Rehabilitation in Vision Impaired Elderly”; funded by NEI (1 RO1 EY12563; Principal Investigator, 1998-2004).
“Driving Transitions and Mental Health in Disabled Elders”; funded by NIA (1R01-AG020579; Principal Investigator; 5/04-4/09)
“The Anxiety Disorders Screening and Intervention Program (ADSIP) for Vision Impaired Elders”; funded by the New York State Attorney General’s Office, Principal Investigator 2004-2005).
“Control Strategies & Mental Health in Impaired Elders”; funded by NIMH (R01 MH64437; Principal Investigator; 5/02-4/09)