As an epidemiologist in the Department of Ophthalmology, Linda Zangwill, Ph.D. conducts research in the distribution and characteristics of eye disease, in particular glaucoma, in human populations. Her current projects include: investigation of new methods for detecting and measuring glaucomatous optic neuropathy and monitoring its progression; study of the relationship between structural changes in the optic nerve and alteration of visual function; and, identification of characteristics of persons at an increased risk of developing glaucoma.

She is the principal investigator of a National Eye Institute funded study evaluating the ability of new diagnostic imaging instruments to detect glaucomatous damage to the optic nerve and to monitor its progression. The ability to detect early signs of glaucoma and its progression at the site of damage, the optic nerve, may help ophthalmologists better understand the disease and initiate treatment at the most appropriate time. Dr. Zangwill is co-investigator of a multi-center National Eye Institute funded study of structure and function in African Americans, a population with an elevated risk of developing glaucoma.

As Director of the Confocal Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy Reading Center, she has developed procedures for utilization of these diagnostic imaging instruments in national and international mutli-center clinical trials of glaucoma and ocular hypertension, including the National Eye Institute funded Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study. Collaboration between research centers could help answer some of the difficult questions in glaucoma research.