Education:

Doctor of Philosophy, 2001
Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia

Bachelor of Applied Science (Optometry, 1996)
Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia

Dr. Shirin E. Hassan joined the Indiana University School of Optometry faculty at the end of November 2007. Originally from Australia, Dr. Hassan completed her optometry training in 1996 at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia and has practised part-time both as a primary care and low vision optometrist where she specializes in the visual rehabilitation of visually impaired people. Dr. Hassan finished her Ph.D. studies in optometry at QUT , Brisbane, Australia in 2001 after which she undertook a post-doctoral research fellowship at the Lions Vision Research and Rehabilitation Center at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. Following her post-doc, Dr. Hassan served as Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology from 2003-2007 at The Johns Hopkins University, Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, MD. Dr. Hassan was invited to join the IU School of Optometry faculty in 2007 as a tenured track faculty member where she continues her successful and active funded research program as well providing low vision patient care and didactic education to optometry students in the area of low vision.

Dr. Hassan’s research interests concentrate on low vision and mobility with a strong emphasis on understanding how people use their vision to achieve safe and efficient mobility. Specifically, Dr. Hassan has conducted studies in the assessment of gaze (eye movement) behavior and mobility performance in normally sighted and visually impaired people as well as investigating the fixation patterns (gaze) of people with age-related macular degeneration. Dr. Hassan also conducts studies investigating how normally-sighted, visually impaired and blind pedestrians use their vision and hearing to make appropriate street crossing decisions as well as investigating the vision and cognitive factors associated with driving performance in older drivers.

Photo of the experimental setup of Dr. Hassan’s street-crossing study.  This research project is conducted in the dynamic and natural environment of a real street!		Close-up view of one of the custom-built sensors that are used to record vehicular speed and gap time in Dr. Hassan’s street-crossing study.		Dr. Hassan conducting her street-crossing study.  In this photo, the research participant is required to make street-crossing decisions using only visual information (since the subject’s hearing is masked).

Dr. Hassan is currently PI on an R03 NIH/NEI grant and has served as co-investigator on other grants funded by various agencies (NIH/NIA, Department of Veteran Affairs and the US Army Research Lab: HRED). Dr. Hassan’s work has been published in various international, peer-reviewed journals as listed below:

• Wildsoet CF, Wood JM, Hassan S. Development and validation of a visual acuity chart for Australian Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. Optometry and Vision Science 1998; 75:806-812.
• Hassan SE, Lovie-Kitchin JE, Woods RL, Soong GP-Y. Orientation and mobility in age-related macular degeneration. Visual Impairment Research 1999; 1:175-180.
• Hassan SE, Lovie-Kitchin JE, Woods RL. Vision and mobility performance of subjects with age-related macular degeneration. Optometry and Vision Science, 2002;79(11):697-707.
• Geruschat DR, Hassan SE, Turano KA. Gaze behavior while crossing complex intersections. Optometry and Vision Science, 2003; 80(7):515-528.
• Geruschat DR, Hassan SE. Driver behavior in yielding to sighted and blind pedestrians at roundabouts. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness. 2005; 99(5):286-302.
• Hassan SE, Geruschat DR, Turano KA. Head movements while crossing streets: effect of vision impairment. Optometry and Vision Science. 2005; 82(1): 18-26.
• Geruschat DR, Hassan SE, Turano KA, Quigley HA, Congdon NG. Gaze behavior of the visually impaired during street crossing. Optometry and Vision Science. 2006; 83(8): 550-558.
• Hassan SE, Hicks JC, Lei H, Turano KA. How much visual information in a single glance is required for efficient navigation? Vision Research. 2007; 47(16): 2115 – 2123.
• Zhang L, Baldwin K, Munoz B, Munro C, Turano KA, Hassan S, Lyketsos K, Bandeen Roche K, West SK. Visual and cognitive predictors of performance on brake reaction test: Salisbury Eye Evaluation Driving Study. Ophthalmic Epidemiology 2007; 14(4): 216 - 222.
• Hassan SE, Turano KA, Muñoz B, Munro C, Bandeen Roche K, West SK. Cognitive and vision loss affects the topography of the attentional visual field. Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science. 2008; 49(10): 4672 – 4678.
• Keay, L, Muñoz B, Turano KA, Hassan SE, Munro CA, Duncan DD, Baldwin K, Jasti S, Gower EW, West SK. Visual and cognitive deficits predict stopping or restricting driving: the Salisbury Eye Evaluation Driving Study (SEEDS). Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science. 2009; 50(1): 107 – 113.

Dr. Hassan is also involved in teaching the following courses:

• Course Instructor of lectures titled, "Understanding Refractive Errors" and "Anterior Eye Diseases", for the CE online course, "Understanding Visual Impairments and Functional Rehabilitation of Visually Impaired Patients", published by Emerald Education Systems. Register or view more details.



• Teaching within the Indiana School of Optometry:
  • Course Instructor of V765: Oxyopia Research Seminar Series (Graduate Vision Science Program)
  • Lecturer for V501 Integrative Optometry 1 (1st Year OD Course)
  • Course Instructor of V751: Low Vision Rehabilitation (3rd Year OD Course)

Dr. Hassan is a fully qualified Optometrist registered to practice in both Australia and in the state of Indiana, USA. Dr. Hassan currently provides low vision rehabilitation patient care to patients presenting at the Indiana University School of Optometry Low Vision Rehabilitation Service. Make a Low Vision eye appointment at IU.