Research

Ophthalmology explores every component of the visual system to protect and enhance one of our most vital senses: vision. This dynamic field continues to evolve rapidly, and FORSEE is at the forefront of these advances.

Advancing Eyecare Through Research

FORSEE Canada recognizes research as one of the three necessary arms of our holistic approach to help every eye, everywhere. Just as every part of the eye has a role in vision, every member of our research team—spanning subspecialists and allied eyecare professionals—plays a vital part in driving innovation. By identifying gaps in care and emphasizing real-world impact, we translate research into meaningful advances in patient care.

Linking Education and Innovation

Your support helps us drive research that connects learning with breakthrough solutions in eye care. By donating, you empower future professionals, fuel discovery, and create lasting impact for communities in need. Together, we can turn knowledge into vision for every eye, everywhere.

Holistic Research Vision

As part of our holistic approach to eyecare, we use insights from our outreach programs to inform an epidemiological understanding of vision health. This enables us to identify gaps in care and guide data-driven solutions.

How Your Support Helps

Another key aim of our research program is to train the next generation of medical professionals in foundational science and advanced clinical research. By equipping future healthcare providers with an evidence-based skillset, we will help ensure that research and innovation remain central to patient care.

To that end, FORSEE Canada offers the Summer Research Scholarship: a competitive award for second-year Canadian medical students pursuing further ophthalmological studies.

Linking Education and Innovation

Your support helps us drive research that connects learning with breakthrough solutions in eye care. By donating, you empower future professionals, fuel discovery, and create lasting impact for communities in need. Together, we can turn knowledge into vision for every eye, everywhere.

Holistic Research Vision

To bring full circle to our holistic approach in advancing eyecare, we couple our epidemiological mindset with our experience from our outreach programs, to address eyecare gaps in the vulnerable populations.  In essence our outreach missions look towards the direct care for the individual’s eye and the eyes of generations to come.

How Your Support Helps

Your support powers everything we do, from providing essential lab equipment and advanced diagnostic tools for our volunteer clinicians to funding scholarships that prepare the next generation of eyecare professionals. The burden of eye disease has long outpaced ophthalmological research investment, but with your help, we can change this to advance eyecare today and into the future.

Publications & Abstracts

Publication

ANTERIOR CHAMBER CYTOKINE PRODUCTION AND POSTOPERATIVE MACULAR EDEMA IN DIABETIC PATIENTS UNDERGOING FEMTOSECOND LASER-ASSISTED CATARACT SURGERY

Cioana M, Patodia Y, Tong L, Chiu HH, Tam ES, Somani S. Anterior chamber cytokine production and postoperative macular edema in diabetic patients undergoing femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery. Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery. 2023. doi: 10.1097/j.jcrs.0000000000001335

Publication

COMPARISON OF PAIN PERCEPTION IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING MANUAL CATARACT SURGERY VERSUS REFRACTIVE LASER-ASSISTED CATARACT SURGERY

Cioana M, Gupta RB, Tam ES, Chiu HH, Gold I, Somani S. Comparison of pain perception in patients undergoing manual cataract surgery versus refractive laser-assisted cataract surgery. Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology. 2023;S0008-4182(23)00101-1. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjo.2023.03.013

Abstract

EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIABETIC RETINOPATHY, DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA, AND OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA

Al-Awadi A, Kaba Q, Somani S. Examining the relationship between diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, and obstructive sleep apnea. Canadian Ophthalmological Society Annual Meeting. Quebec, PQ. June 2019.

Abstract

EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF MICROPULSE CYCKOPHOTOCOAGULATION IN PATIENTS WITH OCULAR HYPERTENSION AND GLAUCOMA

Kaba Q, Tam E, Somani S, Yuen D. Efficacy and safety of micropulse cyclophotocoagulation in patients with ocular hypertension and glaucoma. Canadian Ophthalmological Society Annual Meeting. Quebec, PQ. June 2019.

Abstract

CORNEAL CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH INTRASTROMAL LIMBAL RELAXING INCISIONS USING THE FEMTOSECOND LASER

Lim CW, Somani S, Chiu H, Maini R, Tam E. Corneal changes associated with intrastromal limbal relaxing incisions using the femtosecond laser. Canadian Ophthalmological Society Annual Meeting. Quebec, PQ. June 2019.

Abstract

COMPARISON OF THE REFRACTIVE EFFECT BETWEEN FEMTOSECOND LASER VERSUS MANUAL CLEAR CORNEAL INCISIONS

Pereira A, Somani S, Tam E, Chiu H, Maini R. Comparison of the refractive effect between femtosecond laser versus manual clear corneal incisions. Canadian Ophthalmological Society Annual Meeting. Quebec, PQ. June 2019

Abstract

COMPARISON OF TORIC INTRAOCULAR LENS (IOL) CALCULATION ACCURACY USING HAIGIS AND BARRETT FORMULAS IN MANUAL VERSUS LASER-ASSISTED CATARACT SURGERY

Sharma S, Nithianandan H, Tam E, Chiu H, Maini R, Somani S. Comparison of intraocular lens (IOL) calculation accuracy using Haigis and Barrett formulas in manual versus laser-assisted cataract surgery. Canadian Ophthalmological Society Annual Meeting. Quebec, PQ. June 2019.

Abstract

OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY CHANGES AFTER CATARACT SURGERY IN PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

Lu M, Somani S, Yan P, Tam ES, Chiu HH. Optical coherence tomography angiography changes after cataract surgery in patients with and without diabetic retinopathy. Poster presented at: American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Annual Meeting; 2020 May 16-17.

Abstract

THE EFFECT OF BRIMONIDINE 0.15% ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUBCONJUNCTIVAL HEMORRHAGE FOLLOWING FEMTOSECOND LASER ASSISTED CATARACT SURGERY.

Chiu H, Somani S, Tam ES, Jaki Nistha. The Effect of Brimonidine 0.15% on the development of subconjunctival hemorrhage following femtosecond laser assisted cataract surgery. Paper presented. Canadian Ophthalmology Society, June 26 - 28, 2020

Abstract

TREATMENT SWITCH FROM AFIBERCEPT TO RANIBIZUMAB IN CANADIAN DME PATIENTS IN A REAL-WORLD SETTING: THE PRECISE STUDY

Somani S, Giunta M, Kalevar A,Trottier P, Caron L, Tuli R, Cordahi G, Gavalakis J and Adiguzel E. “Treatment switch from aflibercept to ranibizumab in Canadian DME patients in a real-world setting: the PRECISE study” Canadian Retina Society (CRS) Annual Meeting 2021;November 20, 2021

Abstract

AUTOLOGOUS PLATELET-RICH PLASMA DROPS FR THE TREATMENT OF REFRACTORY MODERATE-TO-SEVERE EVAPORATIVE DRY EYE DISEASE FROM MEIBOMIAN GLAND DYSFUNCTION

Somani, S. Chiu, H.H., Tam, E.S., & Murtaza, F. “ Autologous platelet-rich plasma drops for the treatment of refractory moderate-to-severe evaporative dry eye disease from meibomian gland dysfunction” [Poster Presentation]. European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) Annual Winter Meeting 2022, Virtual; February 18-20 2022

Abstract

THE EFFECT OF BRIMONIDINE 0.15% ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUBCONJUNCTIVAL HEMORRHAGE FOLLOWING FEMTOSECOND LASER ASSISTED CATARACT SURGERY.

Chiu H, Somani S, Tam ES, Jaki Nistha. The Effect of Brimonidine 0.15% on the development of subconjunctival hemorrhage following femtosecond laser assisted cataract surgery. Paper presented. Canadian Ophthalmology Society, June 26 - 28, 2020

Abstract

HEALTH CARE UTILIZATION, ADHERENCE, PREVALENCE, AND RISK FACTORS OF DRY EYES AFTER CATARACT SURGERY

Saffire H Krance, Amin Hatamnejad, Rutmila Uddin, Sohel Somani, Eric Tam, Fahmeeda Murtaza, Hannah H Chiu. “Health care utilization, adherence, prevalence, and risk factors of dry eyes after cataract surgery” American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS) Annual Meeting Annual meeting 2022, Washington DC; April 22-26, 2022

Abstract

A PERPETUAL URBAN CHALLENGE: REFUGEE EYE CARE IN THE GTA

Somani, Sohel “A perpetual urban challenge: Refugee Eye Care in the GTA” Canadian Ophthalmology Society (COS) 2022 Halifax, Nova Scotia, June 9- 12,

Publication

LONG-TERM OUTCOMES IN HALF-DOSE VERTEPORFIN PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY FOR CHRONIC CENTRAL SEROUS RETINOPATHY

Dhirani N, Yang Y, Somani S. Long-term outcomes in half-dose verteporfin photodynamic therapy for chronic central serous retinopathy. Clin Ophthalmology 2017; 11:2145-49.