Investigating how different visual environments affect myopia development
Official title: Myopia and the Visual Environment
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11021428 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how different visual surroundings can affect the growth of myopia (nearsightedness) in young eyes, using tree shrews to find out if certain scenes can help keep eyes healthy, and it’s also testing a new red light therapy that might slow down myopia progression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2025 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $494,418 |
| NIH project number | 1R01EY036970-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11021428 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include children and young adults who are at risk of developing or currently have myopia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with stable myopia who are not experiencing progression may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how various visual environments influence the development of myopia, particularly during the critical growth period of the eye. By using tree shrews, which are closely related to primates, the study aims to determine the effectiveness of different real-world visual scenes on eye growth regulation. Additionally, the research will explore a new therapy involving low-level red light to slow down myopia progression, addressing the limitations of current treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing or slowing the progression of myopia in children and adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results with similar approaches, particularly in using animal models to explore myopia treatment options.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gawne, Timothy J — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Gawne, Timothy J
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PICNIC: Factors inside the eye linked to childhood near-sightedness
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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.