Brain control of eye turning after a concussion
Official title: Functional Mechanism of Neural Control in Post-Concussion Convergence Insufficiency
Funded at New Jersey Institute of Technology · NIH-11170492 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how the brain controls inward eye movement (convergence) in teens and adults who have trouble after a concussion and whether hands-on eye movement therapy helps.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New Jersey Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2014 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $453,957 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY023261-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11170492 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adolescents or adults who developed convergence insufficiency after a concussion, can travel to Newark, New Jersey, and are willing to undergo eye tests, fMRI scans, and office-based therapy.
✕Less likely to help
People whose vision problems come from other causes—such as eye muscle paralysis, severe uncorrectable vision loss, or unrelated neurological disorders—may not receive benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
Researchers will record precise eye movements and use functional MRI brain scans to identify which brain areas are linked to poor convergence after a concussion. They will compare people with post-concussion convergence insufficiency to people without the condition and follow changes over time. Some participants will receive office-based vergence/accommodative therapy while the team tracks improvements in eye movement speed and symptoms. The study links therapy-driven changes in brain activity to real improvements in vision function.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more targeted therapies that reduce double vision, eye strain, and related symptoms after a concussion.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier randomized trials for typical convergence insufficiency have shown office-based vergence therapy improves symptoms and have linked improvements to brain activity changes, though applying these methods specifically after concussion is more recent.
Where this research is happening
-
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Alvarez, Tara Lynn — New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Alvarez, Tara Lynn
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.