Suresh Viswanathan, B.Opt., MS, PhD Associate Professor of Optometry B.Opt. 1990 (Elite School of Optometry, Madras, India) MS 1992 (Pacific University) PhD 2000 (University of Houston)

RESEARCH

A major focus of the research in Dr. Viswanathan's laboratory is to develop techniques for non-invasive assessment of retinal ganglion cell function. The ongoing studies include a) identification and characterization of retinal ganglion cell contributions to the electroretinogram (ERG) recorded to novel stimulus conditions, b) clinical validation of these different ERG measures for early detection and monitoring progression of retinal ganglion cell dysfunction in different optic neuropathies, c) studying the efficacy of novel neuropotective agents in preserving retinal ganglion cell function following optic nerve damage and d) characterizing age-related changes in the visual pathway and studying effects of intervention strategies for preserving vision in normal aging and related retinal degenerations.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Peer-reviewed journals

1. Simpson MC, Viswanathan S. (2006) Comparison of uniform field and pattern electroretinograms of humans. Journal of Modern Optics. (accepted)
2. Harrison WW, Viswanathan S, Malinovsky V. (2006) Focal ERG responses to contrast modulation of pattern stimuli. Optometry and Vision Science, 83, 473-485.
3. Viswanathan, S., Frishman, L.J., Robson, J.G. (2002) Inner-retinal contributions to the photopic sinusoidal flicker electroretinogram of macaques. Documenta Ophthalmologica, 105, 223-242.
4. Harwerth, R.S., Crawford, M.L.J., Frishman, L.J., Viswanathan, S., Smith, E.L. III & Carter-Dawson. L. (2002) Visual field defects and neural losses from experimental glaucoma. Progress in Retinal and Eye Research. 21, 91-125.
5. Hood, D.C., Frishman, L.J., Saszik, S.M. & Viswanathan, S. (2002) Retinal origins of the primate multifocal ERG: Implications for the human response. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 43, 1673-1685.
6. Hood, D.C., Bearse, M.A., Sutter, E.E., Viswanathan, S. & Frishman, L.J. (2001) The optic nerve head component of the monkey's multifocal electroretinogram. Vision Research, 41, 2029-2041.
7. Viswanathan, S., Frishman, L.J., Robson, J.G. & Walters, J.W. (2001) The photopic negative response of the flash electroretinogram in primary open angle glaucoma. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 42, 514-522.
8. Frishman, L.J., Saszik, S., Harwerth, R.S., Viswanathan, S., L, Y., Smith, E.L. III, Robson, J.G. & Barnes, G. (2000) Effects of experimental glaucoma in macaques on the multifocal ERG. Documenta Ophthalmologica, 100, 231-251.
9. Viswanathan, S., Frishman, L.J. & Robson, J.G. The uniform field and pattern electroretinogram in macaques with experimental glaucoma: removal of spiking activity. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 41, 2797-2810.
10. Viswanathan, S., Frishman, L.J., Robson, J.G., Harwerth, R.S. & Smith, E.L. III. (1999) The photopic negative response of the macaque electroretinogram: reduction by experimental glaucoma. Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science, 40, 1124-1136.
11. Hood, D.C., Greenstein, V., Frishman, L.J., Holopigian, K., Viswanathan, S., Seiple, W., Ahmed, J. & Robson, J.G. (1999) Identifying inner retinal contributions to the human multifocal ERG. Vision Research, 39, 2285-2291.
12. Hood, D.C., Frishman, L.J., Viswanathan, S., Ahmed, J. & Robson, J.G. (1999) Evidence for a ganglion cell contribution to the primate electroretinogram (ERG): effects of TTX on the multifocal ERG in macaque. Visual Neuroscience, 16, 411-416.

Book chapters

1. Viswanathan S. General Physiology. Review questions for the NBEO examination, part one. In: Lakshminarayana V, Bennett ES. Butterworth-Heinemann, 63-78, 2006.
2. Pitman RJ, Viswanathan S, Yolton RL. Introduction to special non-invasive tests for the assessment of vision in the elderly patient. In: Rosenbloom AA, Morgan MW. Vision and Aging (2ed). Butterworth-Heinemann, 367-402, 1992.

TEACHING

Optometry program

• V514 - Neuroanatomy (basal ganglia and cerebellum section)
• V516 - Ocular Physiology (retinal physiology section)
• V542 - Systemic Physio-pharmacology I (course master)
• V889 - Special projects (student project supervision)

Graduate program in vision science

• V700 - Introduction to vision science I (retinal anatomy and physiology section)
• V701 - Introduction to vision science II (glaucoma and selected retinal disease)
• V765 - Graduate seminar (course master)
• V768 - Special topics (vision and aging, retinal electrodiagnostics, glaucoma)
• V792 - Ethical issues in scientific research (animal research section)

Graduate program in neuroscience

• N500 - Introduction to Neural Science (Retinal anatomy and physiology, 2001, 2002)

Continuing education lectures

• State and National meetings - 2000 to present

International programs

• Visual Neurophysiology course, Optometry department, Ramkhamhaeng University, Bangkok, Thailand. November, 2005

THESIS/DISSERTATION COMMITTEES

Chair

• Mike P. Venable (M.S., 2002) - The effects of hyperbaric oxygen exposure on normal retinal function of the rat. Current position: Exercise physiologist, U.S. Navy
• Wendy Harrison (M.S., 2005) - Focal ERG responses to contrast modulation of pattern stimuli - cellular origins and clinical implications. Current position: Graduate student in Vision Science, UC, Berkeley
• Brian VanDerPloeg (M.S., expected 2006) - Inner-retinal contributions to the scotopic flash ERG of sprague-dawley rats. Current position: Private practice, Louisville, KY
• Jonathan Bradley (M.S., ongoing)

Member

• Sam Saul Nava, PhD candidate, Department of Biology, Indiana University

CLINICAL SERVICE

Clinical visual electrodiagnostic laboratory, Indiana University School of Optometry

JOURNAL REVIEWER

• Optometry and Vision Science
• Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
• Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing
• Vision Research
• Documenta Ophthalmologica
• IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks
• Visual Neuroscience
• Experimental Eye Research
• Current Eye Research

GRANT REVIEWER

• National Science Foundation
• US State Department
• Australian Research Council

	URL: http://www.opt.indiana.edu/people/faculty/viswanat.htm Revised: July 20, 2006
	IU Optometry home page: http://www.opt.indiana.edu/ Comments: Web Administrator Original page design and coding: Terri Greene Copyright © 2006, The Trustees of Indiana University