Maximizing Visual Potential for People with Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Official title: Maximizing Visual Potential in Age-related Macular Degeneration
Funded at Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute · NIH-11298071 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant investigates how people with age-related macular degeneration adapt their eye movements and attention to use the best remaining vision to perform everyday tasks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2017 |
| Project end | September 29, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,353,224 |
| NIH project number | 2R01EY027390-09A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11298071 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults over 60 with age-related macular degeneration experiencing central field loss and binocular scotomas.
✕Less likely to help
People without central vision loss or AMD may not directly benefit from this study.
What this research studies
Older adults with AMD often lose central vision, which can change how they move their eyes and pay attention to things. The project follows people with different stages of central field loss to see how they switch to a new reference point for eye movements and how this affects tasks like reading and searching for objects in real life. Researchers study eye movements, attention, and reach interactions to understand how a PRL–based reference system develops over time. The work aims to uncover strategies that help people use their remaining vision more effectively in daily life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could inform therapies and training to help AMD patients optimize their eye movement strategies and improve daily functioning.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows that adapting to a new eye-movement reference can improve functional vision, with ongoing work building on these concepts.
Where this research is happening
-
Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Verghese, Preeti — Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Verghese, Preeti
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
AI-powered tool to predict 2-year risk of late AMD
A new AI software helps people at risk of age-related macular degeneration understand their 2-year risk and what steps could protect their vision.
-
Active cycling program to support vision and daily living in Veterans with AMD
A 6-month online group spin cycling program is tested to help Veterans with age-related macular degeneration maintain vision and improve daily functioning.
-
Transplanting stem-cell–derived retinal cells to treat dry AMD
A medical team is testing a stem cell therapy to replace damaged retinal cells in adults with dry age-related macular degeneration.
-
RPESC-derived RPE Transplant for Dry AMD in adults
A new cell-based therapy derived from RPESCs is being tested to help adults with dry age-related macular degeneration regain vision.
-
New high-resolution OCT biomarkers to map early AMD changes
A new imaging approach using advanced OCT methods will help doctors see early changes in age-related macular degeneration to guide treatment and improve quality of life for older adults.
-
Targeting inflammation in age-related macular degeneration
Aims to understand how inflammation drives age-related macular degeneration in people and explore new targets to slow or stop vision loss.
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.