Through UH Optometry's annual Summer Research Program, 11 predoctoral fellows are spending 12 weeks working alongside faculty mentors on projects that could shape the future of eye care. As OPT 1 and incoming OPT 2 students, they are also getting a valuable introduction to research methodology and career paths that combine clinical practice with scientific discovery.

Megan Meng, whose work this summer focuses on clinical assessment of fixational eye movements under the guidance of primary investigator Dr. Maureen Plaumann, started her optometry journey long before becoming a student at UHCO.  

As a child who wore orthokeratology (Ortho-K) lenses, she learned about the life-changing impact of vision correction while she was in elementary school. Later, she saw family members suffer serious eye injuries during the Hong Kong protests, which underscored just how fragile vision can be. Those experiences inspired a career dedicated to helping others preserve and protect their sight. 

Meng later had the opportunity to shadow an optometrist and work as an optometric technician at her childhood clinic, where she learned about retinal imaging, contact lens fittings, and the role of diagnostic tools. She also gained hands-on experience using clinical equipment, pre-testing procedures, insurance processes, and inventory management. 

As a student at UH Optometry selected for the Summer Research Program, Meng is exploring another part of optometry that includes working with clinical study participants within the UH Eye Care Center, meetings with her faculty mentor, and learning more about the research process. 

Her project focuses on tiny eye movements called fixational eye movements, which play a vital role in activities such as reading. The study compares measurements from instruments commonly found in eye clinics with those from a laboratory-based infrared eye tracker to determine whether clinicians can accurately assess fixation stability using equipment already available in practice. 

"If we can show information from these clinical instruments is reliable, our findings can allow optometrists to diagnose or monitor visual conditions without needing specialized laboratory equipment," Meng said.  

Beyond learning research techniques, Meng has gained mentorship, confidence, and a deeper appreciation for the role discovery plays in advancing patient care.  

"I love learning how the research questions are developed and methodology created, how studies are conducted, and how the findings can either contribute to better patient care or open a door to more questions that need answers," she said. "Translational research is especially exciting, because the work we do has the potential to be directly applied in a clinical setting in the future."

Meng's curiosity and enthusiasm, qualities she shares with her fellow students, capture the spirit of the Summer Research Program: preparing future clinician-scientists to advance the field of optometry through discovery and innovation.