PICNIC: Factors inside the eye linked to childhood near-sightedness
Official title: PICNIC: Intrinsic factorspredictive of childhood myopia
Funded at New England College of Optometry · NIH-11389764 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how eye structure and vision in young children may predict who will develop myopia, aiming to understand why some kids become nearsighted.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New England College of Optometry NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2019 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $622,619 |
| NIH project number | 2R01EY030518-06A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11389764 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 0–11 who are at risk for developing myopia or have normal vision at baseline and can commit to four years of follow-up.
✕Less likely to help
Children who already have established myopia or who cannot participate in long-term follow-up may not benefit from this study.
What this research studies
This project follows a large group of 0- to 11-year-olds who start with normal vision and tracks them for four years to see which intrinsic eye factors are linked to the development of myopia. Scientists will measure how the eye processes light and images, using tests like corneal tomography, biometry, and OCT across different angles, plus how well children accommodate and respond to near work. By comparing high- and low-risk children, the study seeks to identify early markers that signal future myopia. The goal is to build a clearer picture of how eye biology contributes to myopia so that prevention strategies can be developed in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to earlier identification of children at risk for myopia and inform personalized prevention or treatment approaches.
How similar studies have gone: Previous NIH-funded work has identified candidate factors, suggesting that longitudinal eye measures can reveal predictors of myopia.
Where this research is happening
-
New England College of Optometry
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vera-Diaz, Fuensanta Ascension — New England College of Optometry
- Study coordinator: Vera-Diaz, Fuensanta Ascension
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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.