Understanding how diabetes affects color vision
Official title: Characterizing the spatial distribution of color vision deficiencies in diabetes and prediabetes
Funded at University of Houston · NIH-10827984 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how diabetes and prediabetes affect color vision, especially in different parts of the eye, to help doctors understand and manage eye health better for people with these conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $193,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R21EY033958-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10827984 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who have been diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without diabetes or prediabetes, or those with other unrelated vision impairments, may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how diabetes and prediabetes impact color vision, particularly focusing on the spatial distribution of color vision deficiencies in the retina. By using a custom chromatic microperimeter, the study aims to quantify color discrimination across different areas of the visual field in patients with diabetes. The research will compare the color vision of these patients to that of healthy individuals, correlating the findings with blood sugar levels to better understand the relationship between diabetes and vision loss. The goal is to improve early diagnosis and proactive management of diabetic eye disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better early detection methods for diabetic eye disease, potentially preventing vision loss in patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that early detection methods for diabetic eye disease can significantly improve patient outcomes, suggesting that this approach may also be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Coates, Daniel Robert — University of Houston
- Study coordinator: Coates, Daniel Robert
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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.