معرفی
J. Vernon Odom, Ph.D., FARVO is Professor of Ophthalmology at West Virginia University School of Medicine with joint appointments in the Department of Neuroscience and the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute. He heads the West Virginia Lions Visual Function Laboratory and has established himself as a leading researcher in visual function assessment using electrophysiology and psychophysics in both normal and abnormal vision conditions.
Dr. Odom received his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. His postgraduate training included studies at Case Western Reserve University's Psychology Department, the University of California at Berkeley's School of Optometry, and the University of Florida's Ophthalmology Department.
Dr. Odom's research focuses on higher order visual perception in older patients with low vision, with particular emphasis on optic flow as a means of controlling locomotion and navigation in patients with reduced visual abilities. His laboratory actively investigates strategies to assess quality of life in patients with reduced vision and develops non-invasive methods to assess traumatic brain injury, systemic diseases and toxic exposures. His work bridges clinical ophthalmology with neuroscience to address real-world vision challenges affecting mobility and independence.
Analysis of Dr. Odom's publication record reveals a strong focus on visual electrophysiology, particularly visual evoked potentials (VEPs), with applications spanning from basic retinal physiology to clinical standards development. His work increasingly addresses the challenges faced by older adults with visual impairments, including mobility issues and social implications of vision loss. The International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision has adopted his standards for clinical visual evoked potentials, demonstrating the field-wide impact of his research.
Dr. Odom has received numerous prestigious awards throughout his career:
- 1989: Visiting Fellow, The Netherlands Ophthalmic Research Institute
- 1996: Foreign Interuniversity Francqui Chair in Biomedical Sciences
- 1996: Visiting Scientist Award from Région Nord-Pas de Calais and INSERM
- 2010: Gold Fellow, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
- 2011: Board of Directors, Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute
- 2012: Selection Committee, Pisart Award
Dr. Odom's research has been supported by multiple grants from the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, National Science Foundation, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and Social Security Administration. His NIH-funded projects include 'Normal and Abnormal Development of Binocularity' (1981-1985) and 'Higher Order Visual Perception: Effects of Low Vision in Elderly Patients' (2003-2008). He has served as Co-Investigator on projects related to functional brain imaging of human amblyopia and has mentored numerous students through his laboratory work.
Dr. Odom heads the West Virginia Lions Visual Function Laboratory, where his team employs electrophysiology (electroretinography and visually evoked potentials), psychophysics, and questionnaire-based assessments to evaluate visual function in clinical populations. Current research focuses on understanding how visual impairment affects mobility and activities of daily living, with particular attention to the role of optic flow information in navigation. His laboratory work has important implications for developing more effective rehabilitation strategies for patients with low vision.
