Vision Research Center Begins Enrollment for Pediatric Vision Studies

The Clinical Vision Research Center of SUNY College of Optometry is seeking subjects for several vision studies this fall. 

Much of the research this year involves the pediatric population, says Kristen Fry, O.D., M.S., associate director of the center. “We have three studies which are currently enrolling children, so it’s a big focus at the moment.”

One of the studies looks at convergence insufficiency—a condition that occurs when the eyes don’t work well together and can cause a loss of concentration and difficulty reading in children. To be eligible for the 16-week study, children ages 9-14 must show signs of the condition, which include problems focusing their eyes or blurred vision.

Participants will receive vision training to improve reading and attention in school, Fry says. Kids who qualify for the Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial may also receive free glasses or contacts along with vision therapy.

The research center is also conducting a clinical trial for the treatment of Amblyopia, or lazy eye; a condition where one of the eyes does not see as well as the other. Funded by a grant from the National Institutes for Health, the study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an iPad-based treatment compared to traditional therapies such as patching. Participants, ages 13-15, are required to come to the center for five visits over a period of 16 weeks.