Professor; Director, UAB Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation

Areas of Interest
low vision rehabilitation, pediatric vision impairment, macular degeneration

Dr. DeCarlo is director of the Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation (CLVR), where she treats patients with decreased vision that cannot be corrected medically or surgically. She is nationally known for both her clinical care of the patient with low vision and her research related to vision impairment. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry where she is also a Diplomate of the Low Vision Section.  She is a past chair of the American Optometric Association Low Vision Rehabilitation Section and is the current Chair of the American Academy of Optometry Low Vision Section.  She directs a successful support group for children with vision impairment and their families with the support of Songs for Sight.

She earned her Doctor of Optometry and Master of Science in physiological optics concurrently from UAB. She completed residency training in rehabilitative and hospital based optometry at the Hines Central Blind Rehabilitation Center and the Chicago West Side Veterans Administration Medical Center. Dr. DeCarlo later earned her Master of Science in Public Health from the UAB School of Public Health and is currently a doctoral student in vision science. She holds an adjunct appointment in the School of Optometry and is a member of the Vision Science Research Center and the Comprehensive Neuroscience Center.

Dr. DeCarlo has received National Eye Institute, EyeSight Foundation of Alabama, and National Institute for Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research funding to study vision impairment due to age-related macular degeneration as well as pediatric vision impairment. Current goals include a more comprehensive understanding of the accommodative systems, attention and reading abilities of children with permanent vision impairment. 

Education & Training

Postgraduate Training
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Doctorate of Optometry, Master of Science, Physiological Optics, Master of Science in Public Health (epidemiology) 

Residency Training
Hines Central Blind Rehabilitation and Chicago West Side Veterans Administration Medical Center

Contact Information

Location
UAB Callahan Eye, Suite 405 - UAB's Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation 

Front Desk Phone
205-488-0736 

Clinic Fax
205-488-0746