Dr. Don Mutti spoke to us about his career at the College and about his research. Dr. Mutti teaches optics to first year optometry students. He has been doing research on refractive error for 27 years, and gets to bring research and clinical practice together at Ohio State. His research focuses on three main questions: How do the ocular optical components develop during childhood, what are the risk factors for myopia, and if future myopia can be predicted. He then explained to us how hyperopia is a cushion against nearsightedness, and ended with a discussion on ipRGC photoreceptors and the delayed pupillary response to blue light.

Dr. Nicky Lai spoke to us about his career at the College of Optometry and his story of how he got to be where he is today. Dr. Lai graduated from Ohio State in 2003 with an OD/MS degree. He gave us advice on how to succeed with the difficult course work of optometry school and the process of finding a niche within optometry. Dr. Lai concentrated on contact lenses and did a cornea contact lens residency. He is now the Chief of Contact Lens Service and told us about the various contact lens courses he teaches. Advancements in the area of contact lenses were also discussed, such as how scleral lenses can incorporate more correction for different refractive needs.