Telling inflammatory versus nerve-related chronic eye pain apart using nerve imaging and brain scans
Differentiation of Clinical Phenotypes of Inflammatory and Neuropathic Ocular Pain Conditions with Morphologic Measures and Functional Brain Imaging
This project uses corneal nerve imaging, sensory tests, and brain scans in adults with chronic dry-eye pain from inflammation (like Sjogren's) or nerve damage to tell those causes apart.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11174496 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you'll be grouped with people who have Sjogren's-related eye pain, those with neuropathic ocular pain, or people without eye pain. You'll get in vivo corneal nerve microscopy and quantitative sensory testing to check for peripheral nerve changes and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to look at trigeminal nerve structure. You'll also have MRI and functional MRI while brief light-related tasks measure brain responses linked to photophobia. Comparing these peripheral and brain measures aims to find markers that help clinicians distinguish inflammatory from neuropathic ocular pain.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) with chronic dry-eye–related pain, including those diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome or suspected neuropathic ocular pain who can safely undergo MRI and light stimulation, are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without chronic ocular pain, those under 21, or anyone unable to have MRI or tolerate light exposure are unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This could help doctors diagnose whether chronic eye pain comes from inflammation or nerve damage, leading to more targeted treatment and better monitoring.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work has found corneal nerve loss and altered brain activity in people with eye pain, but combining peripheral nerve imaging with DTI and fMRI to separate inflammatory versus neuropathic ocular pain is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston Children's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Moulton, Eric Alan — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Moulton, Eric Alan
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 below.