Understanding early vision loss in diabetic eye disease
Mechanisms of Early Functional Loss in Diabetic Eye Disease
This project uses non-invasive vision tests to track early eyesight changes in people with diabetes who have little or no visible eye damage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11377993 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be asked to do comfortable, non-invasive vision tests that measure how your eyes respond in bright, dim, and changing light. The team combines electrical recordings of the retina, behavioral vision tests, and measurements of pupil responses to capture different aspects of retinal nerve function. Tests will be repeated over time so small changes can be detected before typical blood-vessel damage appears. The goal is to create reliable ways to define and stage early nerve-related eye changes in diabetes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with diabetes who have mild or no diabetic retinopathy and are willing to attend repeated non-invasive vision testing visits are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with advanced diabetic retinopathy or other major eye diseases may not directly benefit from these early-stage diagnostic studies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help detect diabetes-related vision problems earlier and guide interventions to protect sight.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies indicate electrical, psychophysical, and pupil tests can spot subtle retinal nerve dysfunction, but longitudinal testing across everyday lighting conditions is less explored.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- University of Illinois at Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcanany, James Jason — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Mcanany, James Jason
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.