Investigating how light exposure and near work affect myopia development in children
Official title: Light, near work, and ocular remodeling and during emmetropization and myopia development in children
Funded at University of Houston · NIH-11050819 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into why kids and teens get nearsightedness, focusing on how things like not getting enough bright light and spending too much time on close-up activities might make it worse, so we can find better ways to help slow it down.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2019 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $449,728 |
| NIH project number | 2R01EY030193-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11050819 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children and adolescents aged 0-20 years who are at risk of developing or are currently experiencing myopia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not within the age range of 0-20 years or those who do not have myopia may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the causes of myopia, or nearsightedness, which affects a significant portion of children and adolescents. It aims to explore how factors like reduced exposure to bright light and increased time spent on close-up activities contribute to the onset and progression of myopia. By examining changes in the eye's structure during myopia development, the study seeks to identify effective environmental and behavioral strategies to slow down myopia's progression. The research employs advanced imaging techniques to analyze eye growth and its relationship with visual habits.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to effective strategies for preventing or slowing the progression of myopia in children, potentially reducing the risk of severe eye complications later in life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the relationship between light exposure, near work, and myopia, indicating that this approach has potential for significant findings.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ostrin, Lisa a — University of Houston
- Study coordinator: Ostrin, Lisa a
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PICNIC: Factors inside the eye linked to childhood near-sightedness
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Peripheral vision factors behind kids’ nearsightedness
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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.