Dr Amithavikram R Hathibelagal, Scientist at the Brien Holden Institute of Optometry and Vision Sciences, LVPEI has been awarded the 2025 ARVO Foundation Collaborative Research Fellowship for his study titled 'Compensation mechanisms for spatial and chromatic deficits in patients with diabetic retinopathy.'
Research focus: This study investigates how neural adaptation compensates for spatial and chromatic sensitivity losses in diabetic retinopathy by comparing threshold deficits with suprathreshold percepts, revealing mechanisms that preserve perceptual experience despite progressive retinal disease.
Why this study matters: Understanding perceptual compensation in diabetic retinopathy explains why patients underestimate vision loss, improves interpretation of clinical tests, informs functional assessment, and guides interventions that enhance daily visual experience despite retinal damage.
The 2025 ARVO Foundation Collaborative Research Fellowship aims to foster global scientific dialogue and innovative research by connecting researchers from developing countries with well-established scientists, strengthening their research capabilities.
