Making both eyes work together better

Binocular Coordination of Eye Movements

['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON · NIH-11323601

This project looks for ways to understand and improve eye alignment and lazy eye (amblyopia) so children and adults can see more clearly.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON (nih funded)
Locations1 site (HOUSTON, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11323601 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

From a patient's point of view, researchers are studying how the brain controls where each eye looks and why eyes can become misaligned (strabismus) or develop a weaker eye (amblyopia). They record brain activity in primate models from key eye-movement areas such as the superior colliculus and frontal eye fields and use special visual tasks (the double-step paradigm) to see how gaze choices are made. The team is also testing a new therapy in monkeys that temporarily inactivates the stronger eye to encourage recovery in the weaker eye. Findings are meant to guide new treatments that could help children and adults with crossed or lazy eyes.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with eye misalignment (strabismus) or amblyopia, including children and adults seeking improved binocular vision.

Not a fit: People whose vision loss comes from unrelated causes (for example cataract, retinal degeneration, or optic nerve disease) may not benefit from these approaches.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new therapies that restore eye alignment and improve vision in people with strabismus and amblyopia.

How similar studies have performed: Prior animal work has shown promising recovery of vision using temporary inactivation of the fellow eye, but results in humans have not yet been established.

Where this research is happening

HOUSTON, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.