Karla Zadnik

Karla Zadnik, OD, PhD, serves as the Dean of the College of Optometry and holds the esteemed position of Glenn A. Fry Professor at The Ohio State University. With a robust academic background, she earned her doctorate in optometry and physiology from the University of California, Berkeley. Her career in academia includes a significant tenure of 14 years on the clinical faculty at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine, where she honed her expertise in clinical vision research. Dr. Zadnik is recognized as a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, where she has taken on leadership roles as a Diplomate and Chair of the Cornea and Contact Lenses Section. Her commitment to advancing the field is further demonstrated through her role as Chair of the Academy's Membership Committee. Her influence extends to the American Optometric Association, where she chairs the Council on Research, contributing to the development of research initiatives within the optometric community. In her research endeavors, Dr. Zadnik serves as the Study Chairman for two significant studies funded by the National Eye Institute/National Institutes of Health: the Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Ethnicity and Refractive Error (CLEERE) Study and the Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Keratoconus (CLEK) Study. These studies are pivotal in understanding the progression and impact of refractive errors and keratoconus across diverse populations. Dr. Zadnik's dedication to research and education is further exemplified by her role as Principal Investigator for two patient-based research training awards. She has been awarded a Clinical Vision Research Development Award grant from the National Eye Institute, as well as a Clinical Research Curriculum Award from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. These awards underscore her commitment to fostering the next generation of clinical researchers in vision science. Her research interests are deeply rooted in refractive error, corneal health, clinical vision research, keratoconus, and the development and application of contact lenses. Through her work, Dr. Zadnik continues to contribute significantly to the field of optometry, influencing both clinical practices and research methodologies. Her leadership and research have made a lasting impact on the understanding and treatment of vision-related conditions, benefiting both the academic community and patients worldwide.