Eye pulse measurements in normal and high eye-pressure eyes
Measuring Ocular Pulse Amplitude with Fixed Force Applanation on Normotensive and Hypertensive Eyes
A new method measures the eye's pulse with each heartbeat in people with normal eye pressure and those with elevated eye pressure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11290809 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would have your eye pressure recorded in a way that captures pressure changes with each heartbeat (ocular pulse amplitude) using a fixed-force applanation device. The project compares measurements from people with normal intraocular pressure and those with high pressure to see how the pulse signal differs. Researchers will link these pulse measurements to eye health markers such as glaucoma severity and other retinal conditions. The work focuses on improving how reliably we capture the dynamic changes in eye pressure that standard single-number tests miss.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates include people with normal intraocular pressure, people with elevated intraocular pressure (ocular hypertension), and patients at risk for or diagnosed with glaucoma.
Not a fit: People whose eye problems are unrelated to intraocular pressure or who cannot undergo applanation tonometry (for example, severe corneal disease) may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make eye pressure testing more accurate and help detect or monitor glaucoma and related conditions earlier.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier small studies found lower ocular pulse amplitude in glaucoma and some retinal diseases, but reliable OPA measurement has been limited by lack of suitable devices, so this approach is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wen, Joanne — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Wen, Joanne
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 below.