2019 Lans Distinguished Award:
Dr. Cynthia Roberts

Cynthia J. Roberts, PhD, serves as Director of Research in the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science at The Ohio State University where she also holds the Martha G. and Milton Staub Chair for Research in Ophthalmology.  She has a cross appointment in Biomedical Engineering where she advises students in vision research. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from the University of Iowa, where she graduated with distinction in 1979.  Subsequently, she received a Master of Science Degree in 1986 in Electrical Engineering, and a Doctoral Degree in Biomedical Engineering in 1989, both from The Ohio State University. 

She made significant contributions to the basic science of corneal topography in the 1990’s, especially related to optimal algorithms for interpretation of response to refractive surgery.  She is widely known for her innovative work in the biomechanics of refractive surgery and in the clinical assessment of biomechanics, as well as recognizing the role of biomechanics in measurement error of intraocular pressure, specifically after refractive surgery.  Roberts has given over 200 National and International Invited Lectures, has published over 120 papers in peer-reviewed journals, has contributed to more than 20 book chapters and has co-edited three books on Corneal Topography, Corneal Biomechanics, and Biomechanics of the Eye.  She was named to the 2014 and 2018 Power Lists of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Ophthalmology.