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Latest News from the OPTIC Lab

Penn Today recently spotlighted the Shared Vision initiative—led by Eric Lee, Janine Haros, and Justin Wang—which partners with the Scheie Eye Institute to bring comprehensive eye care directly to unhoused communities across Philadelphia. The feature highlights their President’s Engagement Prize–supported work providing free screenings, coordinated care, and patient‑centered education, as well as the critical role of Scheie’s new mobile eye‑care unit in expanding access. Read the full story to learn how this team is reshaping community vision care and building sustainable pathways to better eye health for vulnerable populations. 

Penn Today article: Empowering unhoused patients through comprehensive eye care | Penn Today

The Association from Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) showcased research led by Claire Kendell. Titled “Comprehensive Eye Model for the Investigation of Eye Mechanics and Pressure” and selected by ARVO as a Hot Topic presentation, her work introduces a comprehensive model that deepens our understanding of ocular biomechanics and pressure dynamics, offering a more integrated framework for studying how the eye responds to mechanical forces and supporting future innovation in diagnostics and treatment.

Almiqdad Saeed’s research, showcased at the ARVO 2026 conference, examines “The Impact of Surgeon Experience on Cataract Surgery Outcomes.” Investigating one of the most common procedures performed worldwide, this data‑driven work explores how differences in surgeon experience levels shape procedural risk and vision outcomes. This project offers evidence that can guide surgeon training, quality improvement, and clinical decision‑making in cataract surgeries. 

Kalen Truong’s research, also showcased at ARVO 2026, focuses on automated specular microscopy analysis for corneal endothelial cell evaluation. His work advances automation in endothelial cell assessment, enabling more consistent, scalable, and objective evaluations that support eye banks in improving tissue quality review and operational efficiency. Look out for the full abstracts, soon to be published on ARVO Journals.