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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.

Having type 1 or type 2 diabetes means your body doesn't make enough insulin or can't use it as well as it should. When there isn't enough insulin or cells stop responding to insulin, too much blood sugar stays in your bloodstream. Over time, that can cause serious health problems, such as heart disease, kidney disease, and vision loss.

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.

Drs. Christine Curcio, Jean Bennett, Albert Maguire, and Baruch Kuppermann at the 2022 Future Vision AwardsDr. Christine Curcio has been selected as one of four recipients of the Future Vision Foundation’s 2022 Laureate Award. The Future Vision Foundation (FVF) is a non-profit organization co-founded by Cleveland-based, world-renowned ophthalmologist Dr. Suber Huang to showcase the work of extraordinary medical innovators who are making breakthroughs in vision research to restore vision or to prevent vision loss. Each year, FVF selects a group of researchers who have each made an incredible impact on the vision sciences community and highlights them with documentary-style films to celebrate and promote their contributions.

While older adults are at higher risk for eye diseases, getting older does not have to mean losing your vision. UAB Callahan Eye is committed to the personal care and preservation of eye health for our patients as they go through the physical changes that come with aging. Healthy vision is key to maintaining your independence as you age, allowing for important daily tasks such as driving and reading.

Being unable to see well in school is not only a scary thought for us and our kids, but it also has serious academic consequences. According to a recent study published by JAMA Ophthalmology entitled, “Effect of a Randomized Interventional School-Based Vision Program on Academic Performance of Students in Grades Three to Seven,” students who received eye exams and were prescribed corrective lenses scored higher on standardized tests in reading and math.

In the 2022 fiscal year, UAB Callahan Eye added six new providers to our team of exceptional clinical faculty. These individuals bring a wealth of knowledge and experience that will only enhance and expand our eye care offerings. These six new providers add to our robust list of clinic locations, allowing us to serve a greater number of patients in our Alabama communities. We greatly look forward to see the incredible work we're sure our new clinicians will provide.

Steve Glenn and the StearmanMy name is Steve Glenn, and I am a professional pilot. I am a Boeing 777 captain for an international cargo company. I’m also a volunteer pilot with the Commemorative Air Force, a 65-year-old organization that flies World War II aircraft for the education and enjoyment of people all over the world.

Tyler Hall, MDBeginning July 2023, the UAB Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences will be adding a Cornea Fellowship to its educational programs. This is in addition to the glaucoma, low vision, retina, and neuro-ophthalmology fellowships already offered in the department.

One of the scaries of aging is the change in night vision over time. Most people start noticing changes in night vision around the age of 45. The most common complaints regarding nighttime driving are difficulty with oncoming headlights, judging distances or speeds, and seeing lane markings or street signs clearly. 

The Alabama Institute for the Deaf & Blind, in partnership with the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, hosted the 10th anniversary White Cane Day Alabama celebration over the weekend on October 15, 2022, at the Alys Stephens Center. White Cane Day is an observance that brings attention to the abilities and achievements of the blind and visually impaired community, using the white cane as a symbol of accessibility and independence.
Molly Cox-Whitney, MS, LPC, Director Laura Dreer, PhD, and Brooke Bailey with UAB Connections.
Jason Vice, OTR/L, SCLV, with the UAB Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation

Rafael Grytz, Ph.D.Rafael Grytz, Ph.D., associate professor of ophthalmology in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, has been awarded tenure. Dr. Grytz joined the department in 2012, and he is proud of his work over the last 10 years. “I’m honored to receive tenure, because, to me, it shows the confidence our department has in me and my laboratory. It means a lot,” said Dr. Grytz. 

Chris Girkin, M.D., MSPH, FACSOn August 31, 2022, Chris Girkin, MD, MSPH, FACS, served on a panel hosted by Advancing Sight Network to close out National Minority Donor Awareness Month. The goal of this annual observance is to increase organ donor registrations among communities of color, which make up nearly 60 percent of the more than 100,000 people on the national waitlist for life-saving organ transplants and to honor those who have been organ and tissue donors. Advancing Sight Network, a nonprofit headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, hopes to restore eyesight while addressing inequality in healthcare. 

Cynthia Owsley, Ph.D., MSPHCynthia Owsley, Ph.D., MSPH, director of the Clinical Research Unit in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, and Nathan E. Miles Endowed Chair of Ophthalmology, has been inducted as a member of the inaugural class of UAB's chapter of the National Academy of Inventors. 

as published in StyleBlueprint

Allie SandlinPhysical health is something many of us take for granted — until something goes wrong. If you’re blessed with clear vision, pause for a moment and consider what it might be like to lose it. This was six-week-old Allie Sandlin’s reality in 2012, but thanks to the experts at UAB Callahan Eye, Allie is now a bright, beautiful, and healthy 10-year-old with excellent vision!

A Talk with Barbara Evers, Executive Director

Barbara EversI became a big fan of UAB Callahan Eye about 15 years ago when my son had a scary eye injury. He received excellent care in the Callahan emergency department and then we were frequent visitors at Callahan for many weeks thereafter, receiving exemplary care each time from his ophthalmologist. I even sent a letter to UAB leadership to highlight our excellent experience at Callahan.

UAB Callahan Eye has expanded to Tuscaloosa with the addition of a new clinic located at 1030 Fairfax Park. The 18th clinic location in Callahan’s growing portfolio of ophthalmic and optometric care opened Monday, August 29, 2022.