Eli Peli, MSc, OD, Vision Rehabilitation Service Co-Director of the Tufts Medical Center Ophthalmology department has been selected to receive the Charles F. Prentice Medal Award by the American Academy of Optometry (AAO). Regarded as the most prestigious award by the academy for research, it is given annually to a distinguished scientist or clinician scientist in recognition of a career-long record of advancement of knowledge in vision science. He will be receiving his award at the Academy 2017 Chicago Awards Ceremony on Friday, October 13.
“Dr. Peli has worked at Tufts Medical Center as a low vision specialist for over 30 years. His clinical skills in prescribing low vision aids have allowed patients with limited vision whose impairments cannot be corrected by surgery or medications, to maintain their activities of daily living,” notes the Ophthalmologist-in-Chief Dr. Jay Duker.
“His research has been in the field of low vision – the same field that he provides clinical care in. His landmark research has helped develop new visual aids for patients with limited sight and allowed them to safely perform daily tasks like walking across the street, making meals, and recognizing faces.”
The nominees are judged by the quality, significance, and impact of his or her career-long body of work in vision science. Dr. Peli has worked to develop a metric for contrast in complex images that permits quantitative specification of contrast in images, which has been widely adopted. His more recent work focuses on mobility and devices for mobility, including pedestrian mobility and driving.
As for Dr. Peli, he states “getting the highest award in Optometry is very exciting and at the same time very humbling. It is difficult to think of one owns name listed next to the amazing list of prior Medal winners. I hope it will redouble my enthusiasm to seek better more effective treatments for people with impaired vision.”
