Donald T. Miller

Donald T. Miller is a Professor at Indiana University School of Optometry, where he teaches optics to professional and graduate students while leading cutting-edge research in high-resolution retinal imaging. He serves as Graduate Faculty with endorsement to chair PhD committees and maintains an active laboratory developing adaptive optics and optical coherence tomography systems.

His educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Optics, University of Rochester (1996)
• B.S. in Applied Physics, Xavier University (1988)

Dr. Miller's research pioneers "living histology" – observing cellular processes in the living retina through advanced optical imaging. His work focuses on developing instruments that capture structural and physiological changes at the cellular level, enabling early detection of retinal pathologies. Key innovations include adaptive optics correction for ocular aberrations and MEMS-based OCT systems, with applications targeting age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.

His recent publications (2020-2024) demonstrate an evolution from instrument development toward clinical translation, emphasizing ultrafast imaging techniques and cellular-level analysis of retinal diseases. The research consistently bridges optical engineering, neuroscience, and ophthalmology to achieve unprecedented in vivo visualization.

Scientific recognition includes:

• 2024 Rank Prize in Optoelectronics for adaptive optics retinal imaging
• R&D 100 Award for MEMS-based OCT development
• Trustees’ Teaching Award (twice)
• Fellow of the Optical Society of America

As a mentor, Dr. Miller chairs PhD committees and leads the Miller Lab – a hub for optical innovation with strong NIH R01 funding. His lab collaborates with the Center for Adaptive Optics and NIH Bioengineering Research Partnerships, translating fundamental optics research into clinical applications. Current work focuses on ultrafast adaptive optics for real-time cellular imaging and glaucoma diagnostics.

The Miller Lab operates within Indiana University's vibrant vision research ecosystem, developing instruments that reveal cellular details across full retinal thickness. Their current projects include characterizing retinal ganglion cells in glaucoma and advancing adaptive optics for earlier blindness prevention.