Christine A. Curcio, Ph.D. and Cynthia Owsley, Ph.D., MSPHAge-related macular degeneration (AMD) threatens detailed vision in millions of older persons globally. While current treatments aim to prevent or stabilize advanced disease, the quest for early intervention remains paramount. Christine A. Curcio, Ph.D., and Cynthia Owsley, Ph.D., MSPH, esteemed researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), are at the forefront of groundbreaking research with the NIH-funded Alabama Study on Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration 2 (ALSTAR2).

On July 13, 2023, Sight Savers America proudly revealed this year’s Hero For Sight Tribute Wall, along with the 2023 Hero For Sight Artwork and 2023 Hall W. Thompson Hero For Sight Award recipient plaque, at the renowned UAB Callahan Eye Hospital in Birmingham.

The UAB Callahan Eye Hospital has generously provided space for the Sight Savers America Hero For Sight Tribute Wall since 2014. Each year, during a special award ceremony, a new honoree and artist are chosen to be featured on the wall. Located on the hospital's first floor, the Tribute Wall serves as a meaningful recognition of individuals who have made exceptional contributions to promoting eye health and vision care.

Sight Savers America has been dedicated to supporting children's vision care through various programs since 1997. These initiatives provide comprehensive eye care services, facilitate access to eye clinics and low vision clinics, and deliver vision aids directly to families in need. All these services are offered free of charge to qualifying families, ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder children from receiving essential eye care.

As a partner in Sight Savers America's mission, UAB Callahan Eye takes immense pride in contributing to the cause of enhancing vision health access for children. Together, we strive to make a positive impact on the lives of young individuals by improving their eye health and promoting a brighter future through better vision care.

In a significant expansion of its educational programs, the UAB Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences introduced a cornea fellowship for the 2023-2024 academic year. This one-year fellowship joins existing programs at UAB and in Birmingham in glaucoma, low vision, neuro-ophthalmology, retina and oculoplastic surgery, enriching the department’s offerings to aspiring ophthalmologists.

In pursuit of our continuing goal of exceptional comprehensive ophthalmic education, the UAB Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences ushered in a transformative change in July 2022. The introduction of an integrated internship year marks a pivotal shift, extending the residency program to four years. Designed to provide a holistic foundation, the internship curriculum incorporates common areas of medicine outside the realm of ophthalmology, strategically targeting fields that routinely intersect with eye care. From neurology and neuro-radiology to dermatology, rheumatology, emergency medicine at UAB and Children’s Hospital, anesthesia, and internal medicine, our first-year residents undergo a diverse array of rotations in addition to three months of ophthalmology. This innovative program has garnered significant success and positive reception after its first year from trainees and attendings alike. Now, as we continue this journey, we are thrilled to introduce our current class of resident interns, who are poised to contribute their energy, dedication, and fresh perspectives to our dynamic ophthalmology community.

Songs for Sight Low Vision Support Group had record attendance for their 2023 Children's Harbor camp weekend.On the last weekend in April, the annual Songs for Sight Youth Low Vision Support Group meeting was held at Children's Harbor on Lake Martin. Hosted by the UAB Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation, this camp weekend is a remarkable event that aims to provide a nurturing environment for children who are low vision or blind and their families. With a focus on sharing experiences, building friendships, and facilitating learning, this event has become a significant gathering for the visually impaired community in Alabama and beyond. The annual event not only offer an opportunity for children to connect with others facing similar challenges but also provide a haven for families to bond and enjoy various recreational activities.

Residents see patients at CHOSEN as well as clinics around Nicaragua.The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences is taking its residency program to new heights by incorporating international rotations into the curriculum. In an effort to provide residents with a broader perspective on ophthalmology, our 2022-23 third-year residents recently completed a one-week international rotation in Nicaragua, focusing on cataract surgery and the practice of ophthalmology in a foreign setting.

As Published in Shelby Living Jun 29, 2023

Rob Tauscher, MDWith the summer season in full swing, making plans to protect your long-term vision is important. Dr. Robert Tauscher, a pediatric ophthalmologist at UAB’s Callahan Eye Clinic in Pelham, provides some safety tips for children’s eye health this summer.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Heersink School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences is thrilled to welcome two exceptional fellows to our program.

Songs for Sigh Support Group receive tickets to inclusive performance of "Shrek the Musical"In a heartwarming act of generosity, Alison Gorrie, alongside the Gorrie Family, donated 20 tickets to a special performance of "Shrek the Musical" at the Red Mountain Theatre. The inclusive event was catered to the unique needs of individuals with vision impairments, and the donated tickets were specifically intended for members of the Songs for Sight Group, a support community dedicated to children and young adults with low vision. Jennifer Jaques, the development personnel at Red Mountain Theatre Company, worked alongside Alison to ensure the success of this remarkable endeavor.

From left to right: Drs. Austin Nave, Max Musharoff, Brent Hoffman, Lauren Williams, and Nathan FischerOn Saturday, June 24, the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) gathered to celebrate the graduation of the 2023 class of fourth-year ophthalmology residents. The event was attended by faculty members, residents, and dedicated staff to honor the accomplishments of these exceptional individuals.

Monday, June 26 marked an exciting day as the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences welcomed its new batch of first-year residents. This distinguished group of residents represents the second-ever class of ophthalmic PGY-1s for the department, and we are thrilled to have such exceptionally qualified individuals from across the country joining our program.

UAB Callahan Eye's newest clinic includes an optical shop.UAB Callahan Eye has expanded to Homewood with the addition of a new clinic located at One Independence Plaza, Suite 700. This new clinic, which opened in February, is the 19th location in Callahan’s growing portfolio of ophthalmic and optometric care.

Protecting your eyes during outdoor activities is crucial to prevent potential injuries. Carrie Smith, OD, a clinical instructor in the UAB Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, emphasizes the significance of proper eye protection when using power tools or yard equipment. Dr. Smith gave us her expert advice on safeguarding your eyes and what to do in case of an eye injury.

Cynthia Owsley, PhD, MSPHResearchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham discovered that night vision tests at a specific location in the retina will be suitable for assessing treatments and preventions for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a common cause of vision loss in older persons.

The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences' Annual Symposium is set to take place Friday, April 14, 2023, at UAB Callahan Eye Hospital. This symposium features speakers from across the country, as well as research presentations from the department's many residency and fellowship programs. Lectures and events will be held on the third floor around the Smith Education Center, suite 300, with an optional social event at Top Golf after the conclusion of the symposium. Click here to register now.

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness by damaging a nerve in the back of your eye called the optic nerve. The symptoms can start so slowly that you may not notice them at first. The only way to find out if you have glaucoma is to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam.

Thankfully, UAB Callahan Eye has an expert team of ophthalmologists who specialize in the detection, prevention, and treatment of glaucoma. We sat down with Blythe Monheit, MD, a glaucoma specialist with more than 15 years of experience, to get the details on glaucoma.

Maria Grant, MD, along with her team at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences teamed up with researchers from the University of Florida College of Medicine (Drs. Qiuhong Li, Mohan Raizada, and Bruce Stevens), the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute (Dr. Gavin Oudit), and Wright Labs, LLC, (Drs. Regina Lammendella and Justin Wright), for a study examining components of systemic and intestinal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) on gut barrier permeability and progression of diabetic retinopathy in human subjects and tested their hypotheses in mouse models of type 1 diabetes. Their study titled, “Maintenance of Enteral ACE2 Prevents Diabetic Retinopathy in Type 1 Diabetes,” was recently published in Circulation Research and gives hope for a new method of preventing and treating diabetic retinopathy, a diabetes complication which causes vision loss due to damaged blood vessels in the retina, or light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. The researchers found a correlation between increased gut permeability and severity of diabetic eye disease giving weight to the claim that gut health is related to eye health.

When we announced the establishment of the four-year integrated residency program, we immediately began to design an intern year program that would benefit our first-ever incoming PGY-1 class. Meet our first-year residents and see how they have been spending their time in their integrated year.

Cynthia Owsley, PhD, MSPHThe NIH Common Fund’s Bridge to Artificial Intelligence, or Bridge2AI, program will help set the stage for widespread use of artificial intelligence to solve some of the most pressing challenges in human health. The program will bring together research team members from richly diverse backgrounds and disciplines to generate ethically sourced tools, data and resources, and ultimately bridge the gap between biomedical and behavioral research and artificial intelligence. The goal of the program is to create a multi-dimensional data set that will assist new insight on Type 2 diabetes and its ocular complications.

Vision insurance is beneficial to help your family maintain healthy eyes. Coverage varies depending on the insurance company that you are with, but most insurance plans offer benefits on an annual basis. As the end of the year approaches, it is important to evaluate your insurance coverage to make sure that you have taken advantage of all the benefits.