How the eye's lens affects measurements of eye length
Investigation of the effect of lens refractive index on the measurement of axial length of the human eye for accommodation and cataract surgery
['FUNDING_R21'] · NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY · NIH-11189681
This project uses new, non-contact imaging to measure each person's lens refractive index and eye length to improve accuracy for things like myopia research and cataract surgery.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R21'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BOSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11189681 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You'll have quick, non-contact scans that combine ray-traceable Scheimpflug imaging and whole-eye OCT to measure your lens's refractive index and the full length of your eye at the same time. The team will record measurements while you look at distant and near targets to see how the lens and eye length change during focusing (accommodation). The study will test these measurements in a group of young adults and compare them to standard axial length methods. If successful, the technique could be translated into clinical use to make eye-length measurements more accurate for treatment planning.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults—particularly young adults—who can sit for non-contact eye imaging and follow instructions to focus at near and far targets.
Not a fit: People with dense cataracts, severe corneal scarring, or who cannot reliably fixate or cooperate with imaging are unlikely to benefit from this study's measurements.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could improve the accuracy of eye-length measurements for individual patients, helping with myopia research and lens power choices in cataract surgery.
How similar studies have performed: Parts of the technology (lens refractive index measurement and whole-eye OCT) have been used previously, but combining them for simultaneous in‑vivo lens-index and axial length measurement is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
BOSTON, UNITED STATES
- NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY — BOSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HE, JI CHANG — NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY
- Study coordinator: HE, JI CHANG
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.