Garrett Swan, Ph.D. (second from left) holds his Envision-Atwell Award for Low Vision Research accompanied by Nicole Ross, NECO; Alex Bowers, Ph.D., Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear; and Ron Schuchard, Ph.D., the Gigi and Carl Allen Envision Research Institute, sponsor of the award.
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WICHITA, Kan.—Garrett Swan, Ph.D. and post-doctoral research fellow at the Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston, has received the 11th annual Envision-Atwell Award for Low Vision Research. Dr. Swan’s winning abstract, “Predicting early hazard detection from head scanning magnitude in individuals with hemianopia” detailed a study in which he determined the different ways individuals scan their blind and seeing sides to find hazards. He completed this study by tracking eye and head movements as subjects with complete hemianopic field loss drove along a virtual route using a simulator. Dr. Swan’s findings may help improve training in compensatory strategies for vision loss as well as to come up with solutions to assistive technologies.

The Envision-Atwell Award for Low Vision Research was named after low vision research supporter Constance Atwell, and consists of a $1,000 stipend and a trophy. Dr. Swan was presented with the award on May 1 during a Low Vision Research Group gathering at the 2019 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology in Vancouver.