CHICAGO— Prevent Blindness America (PBA) has announced Lyne Racette, PhD as the 2013 recipient of the 10th annual Investigator Award, a research grant presented each year to scientific based studies that seek to end unnecessary vision loss.

Dr. Racette has received this year’s award for her study on the effectiveness of motivational interviewing to improve adherence to glaucoma treatment in patients of African descent. Racette is an assistant professor at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute, department of ophthalmology, at Indiana University in Indianapolis, Ind.

“Once vision is lost to glaucoma, it cannot be restored,” said Hugh R. Parry, PBA president and CEO. “It is our hope that through our support of Dr. Racette’s important study, that we can help to minimize the risk of blindness from this disease by working with patients to better understand their needs and help encourage compliance to prevent the needless loss of sight.”

Investigator Award recipients are determined by a panel of experts coordinated by the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). To date, PBA has awarded more than $1 million to eye and vision research projects.

“The support of Prevent Blindness America provides an outstanding opportunity to improve adherence to treatment in a high-risk population, thus preserving sight and reducing a significant health disparity,” said Dr. Racette. “I also want to give special thanks to Silvia Bigatti, PhD, for her contribution to this promising study.”