Vision Science is an exciting and expanding field at the crossroads of modern biology, neuroscience, physics, optics, bio-engineering, chemistry, psychology, epidemiology, and optometry. Investigators in Vision Science conduct human and animal research and modeling, yielding cutting-edge discoveries and applications in disciplines that include molecular genetics, clinical care, adaptive optics, neurobiology, cell biology, infectious disease, bioengineering, perception, and public health.

Building on an unsurpassed range of strengths in the visual health sciences, Berkeley researchers have introduced impressive advances in the understanding and improvement of human visual health. The Vision Science program provides a cohesive home for these wide-ranging efforts to develop and the resources for groundbreaking research and the translation of discoveries into clinical practice.

Major contributions are already occurring in the areas of:

• Neurodegenerative and developmental diseases, such as Age-Related Maculopathy (ARM) and amblyopia
• Molecular genetics of transduction and retinal degeneration
• Genetics of eye disease and gene therapy
• Processing of visual information in the cortex
• Organization of central visual pathways in the brain
• Functional brain imaging
• Structure, function, and plasticity of the mammalian visual system
• Neural mechanisms of visual perception
• Adaptive optics for high resolution retinal imaging
• Visual attention

Spotlight on Research

The current selection provides links to information about research conducted by recent graduates of the Vision Science program.