UAB School of Optometry

05/08/2026

Congratulations to the Class of 2026! 🎓

04/30/2026

Congratulations to our Vision Science Graduate Program students! Two VSGP doctoral students attended UAB's Doctoral Hooding Ceremony on Saturday: Keyur Savla, OD, PhD, also a graduate of our Advanced International Optometry Degree Program, and Esther Nutifafa Anuwa‑Amarh, OD, PhD.

Dr. Savla successfully defended his dissertation titled, “Optical Characterization of Multifocal Contact Lenses Used for Myopia Control.” Dr. Anuwa‑Amarh also successfully defended her dissertation, “Complement of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction in Sjögren’s Disease Dry Eye.” Some of their doctoral thesis committee members were on hand to provide support.

Congratulations to Dr. Savla and Dr. Anuwa‑Amarh on these outstanding achievements!

04/25/2026

Abubakar Sadik Mohammed, OD, doctoral student, received the Graduate Student Leader Award at the 2026 UAB Student Excellence Awards. As president of the UAB Science Policy Advocacy Network, Dr. Mohammed has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a strong commitment to advocacy and student engagement. Join us in congratulating Sadik this well‑deserved honor!

04/23/2026

The Community Eye Care team recently visited the Jasper Senior Activity Center to provide vision screenings for members of the local senior community. Opportunities like this allow CEC to gain hands-on clinical experience while engaging in meaningful service and expanding access to eye care across the state.

04/21/2026

The UAB School of Optometry proudly celebrates Nutifafa Anuwa‑Amarh, OD, PhD, whose completion of the Vision Science PhD marks a significant milestone in her academic career.

Dr. Anuwa‑Amarh’s achievement reflects five years of focused scholarship in the Vision Science Graduate Program, supported by dedicated mentorship from her PhD advisor, Dr. Jillian Ziemanski (left), and the collaborative academic environment fostered by the School of Optometry. Dr. Anuwa‑Amarh is also the first grand‑PhD of Dean Kelly Nichols (right), a powerful example of academic legacy in action and the lasting impact of mentorship across generations.

Advancing the profession depends on sustained mentorship, rigorous training, and investment in future leaders. The School is proud to see Dr. Anuwa‑Amarh continue her impact in Jacksonville, Florida, as she begins her next chapter with Johnson & Johnson.

Congratulations!

04/18/2026

Lights, camera, Eye Ball! Relive an unforgettable Night in Hollywood at Eye Ball 2026. From red-carpet looks to iconic moments, thank you to the SGA for rolling out the star treatment and creating a night to remember.

04/14/2026

Recently, we were thrilled to welcome the Class of 2030 for Spring Visit! This annual tradition gives incoming students their first chance to connect in person, explore and get to know the community they’ll join in August. The excitement was real, the connections were already forming, and we can’t wait to welcome these future optometrists back soon! 💚

04/11/2026

The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) has recognized Aswantee A. MacCarthy, OD, FAAO, a Vision Science Graduate Program doctoral student, for her contributions to vision research and advocacy. She was awarded a travel grant to attend the ARVO 2026 Annual Meeting and will also have the opportunity to moderate a poster session, a significant milestone for her first ARVO as a presenter.

“I was overwhelmed with gratitude," she said. "ARVO is a huge deal."

04/04/2026

The human eye can see with exceptional detail, allowing people to read fine print, recognize faces across the room and take in the features in nature. Scientists have long debated how this sharp vision works at the cellular level and whether the brain and eyes work together to make it possible.

A study from the University of Alabama at Birmingham provides clear answers that could influence future eye care and vision correction. The study, published in Nature Communications, directly reveals the retinal source of human high‑resolution vision, showing how the eye sends precise visual signals to the brain.

A study, led by Lawrence Sincich, Ph.D., shows that a human’s sharpest vision comes from signals isolated to individual cone photoreceptors.

04/03/2026

Today is the final day of UAB Giving Days! This year’s campaign supports SVOSH, helping students provide essential eye care in underserved communities. Read how SVOSH made an impact during its 2025 service trip to Panama and see firsthand how donor support changes lives.

Consider making a gift before Giving Days ends today!

Untreated vision problems can compound over time, greatly impacting a person’s quality of life and day-to-day activities. However, lack of access to eyecare and financial limitations can pose barriers to receiving the care many people need.

04/02/2026

💚 💛 UAB Giving Days START NOW! Your gift today fuels big impact. Let’s show what Blazers can do together!🔥 go.uab.edu/gvdays

💚 💛 LET’S GO, BLAZERS! UAB Giving Days START NOW! 🔥 Two days. Big impact. Endless Blazer energy. Jump in, give back, and show what this community can DO! 💚 💛 🔥🔥

The UAB Optometry project that will benefit from UAB Giving Days is SVOSH, where students led by Dr. Sandra Wang Harris volunteer to provide vision screenings, eye exams, and prescription lenses to people in need locally and abroad.