How cornea and sclera stiffness predict worsening in common eye diseases
Corneal Biomechanics in Ocular Disease
['FUNDING_R01'] · OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11127515
People with keratoconus, diabetes, or high eye pressure will have cornea and sclera stiffness measured to predict who is more likely to worsen over time.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11127515 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would get detailed measurements of corneal and scleral biomechanics at the start and have routine eye exams over several years. The team will collect new metrics like "Corneal Contribution to Stress," cornea compressibility, corneal hysteresis, and scleral stiffness, and include blood HbA1c for people with diabetes. Those measurements will be combined into risk models to predict progression of keratoconus, development of diabetic retinopathy, or conversion from ocular hypertension to glaucoma. The aim is to turn those models into practical tools your eye doctor could use to guide monitoring and treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with keratoconus, people with diabetes without retinopathy, or people with ocular hypertension who can attend baseline and follow-up eye visits.
Not a fit: People without these eye conditions, those with advanced disease already requiring treatment, or those unable to attend follow-up visits are unlikely to gain direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, doctors could use simple eye stiffness tests to identify people at higher risk and offer earlier monitoring or treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Related measures such as corneal hysteresis have been linked to glaucoma risk before, but applying new metrics like Corneal Contribution to Stress in long-term risk models is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Columbus, UNITED STATES
- OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY — Columbus, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: ROBERTS, CYNTHIA J — OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: ROBERTS, CYNTHIA J
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.
Conditions: Diabetes Mellitus, Disease, Disease Progression