Using AI to Help Doctors Decide on Surgery for Children's Eye Abscesses

Automation of the radiographic surgical indicators for pediatric orbital abscess

NIH-funded research New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11098714

This project is creating an AI tool to help doctors quickly and accurately decide if children with eye infections need surgery or can be treated with medicine.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNew York University School of Medicine NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-11098714 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Children with severe eye infections, called orbital cellulitis, can develop abscesses that might lead to serious problems like blindness if not treated correctly. Currently, it can be difficult for doctors to know the exact right time to perform surgery versus continuing with antibiotics alone. This project is building an advanced AI tool that will analyze medical scans to accurately measure these abscesses. By providing consistent and precise measurements, the AI aims to give doctors a clearer picture, helping them decide more quickly and reliably if a child needs surgery. This improved decision-making could help prevent severe complications and improve outcomes for young patients.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This research is focused on pediatric patients, specifically children who develop orbital abscesses as a complication of acute sinusitis.

Not a fit: Patients who are adults or do not have orbital abscesses would not directly benefit from this specific research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this AI tool could help doctors make faster and more accurate decisions for children with orbital abscesses, potentially preventing serious complications like blindness.

How similar studies have performed: While doctors currently use some radiographic signs, there isn't a reliable, automated tool like this one to consistently measure abscesses and guide surgical decisions, making this a novel approach.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.