Detecting glaucoma in people with high nearsightedness (high myopia)
Official title: Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma Study (DIGS): Glaucoma and High Myopia
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11179185 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses new three-dimensional eye imaging and analysis to find glaucoma earlier in people with high myopia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2017 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $662,863 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY027510-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11179185 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with high myopia (long axial length) who are at risk for or have suspected open-angle glaucoma and can attend imaging and follow-up visits are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without high myopia or those with non–open-angle forms of glaucoma are unlikely to benefit from these specific diagnostic methods.
What this research studies
You may be asked to have detailed optical coherence tomography (OCT) eye scans and regular follow-up visits so researchers can track changes over time. The team will analyze 3-D shapes of the optic nerve head from both segmented and unsegmented OCT data to see which features separate myopic eyes with and without progressing glaucoma. They will develop and refine image-based change-detection methods tailored for high myopia, where standard tests can be misleading. The goal is to create patient-centered monitoring approaches that work better for people with long eyes and myopia-related anatomy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help clinicians detect glaucoma earlier and tailor monitoring for people with high myopia to better protect vision.
How similar studies have gone: Standard OCT imaging is useful for many patients, but interpreting scans in high myopia is challenging, so applying new 3-D optic nerve measures is relatively new and still being validated.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zangwill, Linda M — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Zangwill, Linda M
Related research
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Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma for High Myopia
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IOP and CSF Pressure in Glaucoma Risk
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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.