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Our Mission

Our mission is to create a unique environment for research on human vision to increase the understanding of normal vision in support of vision disorders, clinical research to develop new diagnostic procedures and treatments for visual and other sensory disorders, and engineering research to produce better techniques for aid and rehabilitation of the blind and partially sighted.

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Recent Publications

Anatomical schematic of the ear with "Noise" entering the ear canal and reaching the inner ear that has the cochlea and the vestibular organs visible
Shanidze, M. N., Velisar, A., Lotze, A., Prakash, P., Stewart, C., & McCaslin, L. D. (2026). Association between lifetime noise exposure and audiometric thresholds using the noise exposure structured interview. Scientific Reports.
A cartoon of two individuals walking along a street with thought bubbles imagining a fall and an ambulance for one and consternation about foot placement in the other.
Shanidze, N.M., Agathos, C.P., Ellmers, T.J., & Young, W.R., (2026). Links Between Central Visual Field Loss and Movement Processing during Walking. Gait & Posture, 110095.
Tomaz, Â. G., Chopin, A., Alcalde, N. G., Levi, D. M., & Verghese, P. (2026). The best stereoacuity is rarely at the fovea. Vision Research, 240, 108748.
a picture describing an experimental setup where a robot bird is shown on a platform waiting for a live bird to land on a perch to start a birdsong
Araguas, A., Valencia, D., Chopin, A., Thomas, A., Gauthier, P., Richer, F., Guellai, B., & Deregnaucourt, S. (2026). Influence of behavioural contingency on developmental song learning in young zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) tutored by a robot bird. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 293(2066), 20252834. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2025.2834
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Explore SKERI

Front entrance to SKERI building

History of SKERI

The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute is a nonprofit, independent research institute affiliated with and located adjacent to California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. It is a place where Vision Science has been on the cutting edge since 1960. Did you know that it was here at SKERI that the clinical applications of Botox were pioneered? Read more…

Collage of RERC staff mebers and RERC projects

Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center

The Center’s research goal is to develop and apply new scientific knowledge and practical, cost-effective devices to better understand and address the real-world problems of blind, visually impaired, and deaf-blind consumers.

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Internships and volunteering at SKERI

At The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, we offer a wide variety of projects that frequently welcome interns and other dedicated volunteers. If you have a passion for making a difference and would like to contribute your time and expertise to our cause, we would love to hear from you.

Latest News

Binocular Rivalry Reveals a Potential Diagnostic Marker for Lazy Eye

August 27th, 2026

Smith-Kettlewell Raises Funds for Foundation Fighting Blindness at VisionWalk 2026

August 27th, 2026

Testing Digital Map Accessibility for Blind and Low-Vision Users

August 13th, 2026

Vision Science Up Close: Summer Springboard Students Spend a Day at Smith-Kettlewell

August 11th, 2026

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Upcoming Events

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Speaker: Ricki Boden, LCSW, LMFT

Blindness and Low Vision Support Group: September 2026 Meeting, Let’s Talk: The Emotional Ride of Vision Loss

Wednesday, September 16th, 2026 – 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM

This September, we invite you to join Ricki Boden, LCSW, LMFT to discuss the complex emotions and sense of isolation that come with vision loss. While Ricki will be our guest speaker, she intends for this to be a very conversational experience, so we invite you to bring forth your vulnerability and to hold space for the vulnerability of others.
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Blindness and Low Vision Support Group: October 2026 Meeting

Wednesday, October 21st, 2026 – 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM

A description will be provided at a later date.

Get Involved

If you are interested in vision science or want to learn more about low vision and blindness, there are many opportunities to get involved at The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute.

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