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- calendar_today October 19, 2026
Karla Zadnik Recognized for Pioneering Vision Science
Karla Zadnik, an optometrist and professor at The Ohio State University, has been elected to the prestigious National Academy of Medicine (NAM). This honor recognizes her exemplary contributions to the field of vision science, particularly her influential research into the risk factors and prevention of childhood nearsightedness (myopia), as well as her substantial leadership and mentorship.
Influence on Childhood Myopia and Preventive Vision Care
Zadnik’s research has been instrumental in shaping patient-care recommendations, most notably the promotion of outdoor time for children to slow the onset of myopia. "If you think about being a patient-oriented researcher, what’s the highest achievement? It is if something you found out changes how that condition or disease is cared for," Zadnik said. Her work on the protective nature of outdoor time benefits has had a significant impact on how childhood nearsightedness is managed.
The Significance of Myopia Research
As the Glenn A. Fry Professor of Optometry and Physiological Optics, Zadnik has dedicated much of her career to understanding and mitigating myopia’s effects. She notes, "The tissues in the elongated myopic eye are stretched and fragile, and as we age, we are at more risk for retinal detachment and other sight-threatening conditions late in life. If myopia detection and treatment can slow that elongation, those risks could be decreased." Her dedication to preventive vision care and clinical research has helped highlight the broader health consequences of myopia beyond corrective eyewear.
Recognition by the National Academy of Medicine
The National Academy of Medicine, part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in the United States, acknowledges individuals who have made significant contributions to health, medicine, and public health. Zadnik joins a select group of Ohio State faculty who have received this honor, becoming the first optometrist elected to NAM. Her election reflects both her research achievements and her exceptional mentorship and leadership within optometry leadership and education.
John M. Horack, vice president for research at Ohio State, commented, "Her research has improved the eye health of countless young patients, while her extraordinary mentorship and leadership have helped shape the next generation of scientists and clinicians. Her induction into the National Academy of Medicine is a well-deserved recognition of the contributions she has made to science and patient care."
Groundbreaking Keratoconus Study and Academic Leadership
Earning acknowledgment from the national academy of medicine also stems from Zadnik’s work on keratoconus, a condition where the eye’s cornea becomes conical in shape. Early in her career, she led an eight-year, 1,200-participant keratoconus study, mapping its natural history and identifying risk factors. "We mapped the course of this rare disease," Zadnik explained, "and the data we gathered laid the groundwork for much of what we know about the disease today."
Zadnik launched her research career after earning her PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and practicing at UC Davis. Since joining Ohio State’s faculty in 1996, she has brought with her significant National Institutes of Health grants and conducted a two-decade study involving 5,000 children to track the development of myopia from first through eighth grade. She continues to teach, conduct research, and serve in key academic roles, including as former dean of the College of Optometry and interim executive vice president and provost.
Personal Reflections and Ongoing Commitment
Originally from Kent, Ohio, Zadnik spent two decades in California before joining Ohio State. She credits the university and its collaborative environment for her success. "Ohio State and Ohio State Optometry made an academic home for me at a time when that was exactly what my work and career needed, where I could thrive and train graduate students," she reflected.
With her election to the National Academy of Medicine, Zadnik aims to further advocate for preventive vision care and research, serving as an ambassador for optometry in this distinguished body, and continuing to influence the field for years to come.
Source: news.osu.edu.
