Cynthia Owsley

Cynthia Owsley is a Professor and Nathan E. Miles Endowed Chair in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine. She directs the Clinical Research Unit and focuses on aging-related vision impairment, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), vision and driving, and improving eye care access for underserved populations.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology (Visual Perception), Cornell University
  • MSPH in Epidemiology, UAB School of Public Health
  • Postdoctoral Training, Northwestern University (Vision & Aging)
  • Phi Beta Kappa graduate, Wheaton College (Massachusetts)

Research spans AMD progression, retinal imaging (autofluorescence, FLIO), dark adaptation, and public policy translation. Her work includes NIH-funded longitudinal studies (ALSTAR2) and telemedicine programs (AL-SIGHT) addressing health disparities.

Scientific Awards & Honors:

• Glenn A. Fry Award, American Optometric Foundation
• Bartimaeus Award, Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology
• National Science Foundation Pre-doctoral Fellowship
• Gold Fellow, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)
• Member, Research to Prevent Blindness Scientific Advisory Committee
• Board Member, Prevent Blindness

NIH Funding since 1983 enables sustained contributions to vision science and aging research. She has developed AI-driven tools for diabetes-related vision studies (AI-READI) and standardized assessments for low-luminance vision.