Distinctive Research

For separate outstanding achievements in eye-research the Lighting Research Laboratory, General Electric Company, and the department of Research in Physiological Optics, Dartmouth Medical School, were awarded gold medals March 8 by Dr. Karl Compton, president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, on behalf of the Distinguished Service Foundation of Optometry, as part of the three-day convention of the New England Council of Optometrists held at Boston.

Discovery of a hitherto unrecognized type of eye defect, due to small differences in the size and shape of ocular images, and the development of apparatus and lenses to detect and remedy such defect were made by the department of Research in Physiological Optics of the Dartmouth Medical School. The personnel of this department consists of Adelbert Ames Jr., LL.B., A.M., research professor of Physiological Optics; Gordon H. Gliddon, Ph.D., assistant professor of Physiological Optics; Kenneth N. Ogle, Ph.D., research fellow in Physiological Optics; Leo F. Madigan, research clinician in Physiological Optics and Elmer T. Carleton, M. D., associate research clinician in Physiological Optics.

The previously unrecognized type of eye defect discovered by the department of the Dartmouth Medical School, was found to be an unsuspected cause of headaches, eye strain and various systematic disturbances not relieved by any refractive correction. The results of these separate research undertakings are of great importance, not only to those engaged professionally in the examination of eyes, but also to many thousands of persons suffering from impaired eyesight.

The citation for the department of Research in Physiological Optics, Dartmouth Medical School, reads:

"For the discovery of a heretofore unrecognized type of occular defect arising from slight differences in the size and shape of the ocular images.

"For the development of apparatus for determining the existence of such defects, their nature and magnitude.

"For the discovery and development of new types of lenses for correcting such defects.

"For the development, through the measuring and correcting of such defects in a sufficient number of patients, of a clinical technique for treating such cases."

Professors Ames and Gliddon established their research work in Physiological Optics under the auspices of the College in 1921. This department has recently been transferred to the Medical School. Their notable researches and successful clinical work have won the respect of their colleagues at Dartmouth and in their profession generally.