The eye - a small council with great assignment, credit, performance. It collects light, converts it into electrical signals and brings colors, shapes and movements to life in a highly complex interaction with the brain. A marvel that is often taken for granted in everyday life. But as soon as illnesses or defective vision come into play, its preciousness becomes visible in the truest sense of the word. "The complexity of the eye is fascinating and an exciting object of research," says Professor Dr. Christina Schwarz enthusiastically. The Professor of Optometry has been teaching at Aalen University of Applied Sciences since March 2025 and is in the process of setting up a RU on the topic of "Adaptive Optics for Optometry" (AdOpt). The physicist is now being supported by the EXPLOR funding program of the Kessler + Co. foundation for education and culture in Abtsgmünd.
New approach
The development of visual aids such as spectacle lenses, contact lenses and implants is becoming increasingly complex. Modern designs use special shapes and patterns for better vision - for example aspherical surfaces, different zones as in varifocals, or technicians who increase depth of field. However, the visual effect depends heavily on the person's individual perception and is unsatisfactory to measure objectively. Above all, vision at the edge of the field of vision plays a major role here. "When climbing stairs with varifocals, for example, many wearers report feeling unsteady or even nauseous. This is caused by the distorted or inconsistent peripheral image perception," explains Professor Dr. Christina Schwarz. The use of adaptive optics offers a new approach here: it can immediately - i.e. in real time - change the light waves that enter the eye. This makes it possible to see directly how different glasses or contact lenses affect vision on the retina, for example.
Tailor-made glasses
"The aim of AdOpt is to develop and test an adaptive optics system that can be used to visually simulate and subjectively assess, rate new types of corrective solutions. This allows the products to be improved or even 'tailored' individually to the wearer," says Schwarz. A simulation device is also to be developed for this purpose during the course of the project in order to carry out vision tests that capture subjective perception. Myopia control is another area of application that she would like to investigate in more detail in order to halt the progression of short-sightedness (myopia) in children and adolescents. "The focus here is on optimizing the so-called myopia control lenses. These are special lenses that slow down or even stop the progression of myopia."
Great interest among students
With the support of the EXPLOR funding programme from the Kessler + Co. foundation for education and culture in Abtsgmünd, Christina Schwarz is currently setting up a RU on these topics. She has now received 50,000 euros, which the Bruchsal native can now use to purchase many small optical parts such as lenses, prisms, mirrors and filters, as well as to finance a research assistant position. "I am very grateful for this. It's a great opportunity to get my research at Aalen University of Applied Sciences off to a flying start," says the scientist happily. There has also been a great deal of interest from students: "There have been many inquiries as to whether I can take part in the project."
From astronomy to ophthalmic optics
Varifocal lenses, myopia control and contact lenses were not initially on Professor Dr. Christina Schwarz's future plan, but rather the infinite expanse of the starry sky. She actually wanted to study astronomy, which is usually offered at German institutions of higher education as a specialization within a physics degree. So Schwarz decided to study physics at the University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg University - and came into contact with adaptive optics for the first time. This is mainly used in astronomy to compensate for blurring caused by air turbulence with the help of adjustable mirrors. However, the same technology can also be applied to the eye. This practical application immediately fascinated her - as did the high-resolution images of the retina. "There's something enriching about being able to help with your 1. academic (allg.)," says the 44-year-old, adding with a laugh: "In astronomy, of course, that's a long way off."
Research stays in Spain and the USA
The practical relevance was also the decisive reason for Schwarz to do her masters (UK)/master's (US) in biomedical optics. In biophotonics, light and optical technologies are used in medicine, for example in medical imaging, laser therapy and endoscopy. And as she wanted to advance her knowledge in the field (of) adaptive optics in relation to the eye, which was only taught at a few universities worldwide, the physics graduate decided to do a doctorate in vision science at the Universidad de Murcia in Spain. After research stays in the USA and working as a research group leader at the University of Tübingen, she was appointed to the optometry professorship at Aalen University of Applied Sciences in the summer semester of 2025. She also contributes her expertise to the institution of higher education's Center for Optical Technologies (ZOT).
Research as a basic need
The fact that she can now combine her application-oriented research with teaching here is what particularly appealed to the physics graduate about the professorship. "The exchange with the students, being able to follow their development and putting the theory from the lectures into practice with them in the laboratories / labs - I really enjoy that. And, of course, inspiring enthusiasm for research," says Schwarz with a mischievous smile. Because research is a basic need for the woman with the dark curly hair: "It's deep inside me. I want to know how and why something works so that I can then optimize it. It's very meaningful if you can improve quality of life to some extent with your research. The fact that people can see better again motivates me immensely."
Fascination with the moon
Despite his fascination for the eye, Schwarz is still fascinated by outer space and the starry sky. The telescope has a permanent place in the living room window and is also regularly dragged into the garden. She already has an academic staff member for this: her four-year-old son, who loves to observe the moon.
