Clinical Research Directory

Retinopathy of Prematurity - Visual Function and Retinal Structure

Children born prematurely may develop a characteristic retinal disease named retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). This disease could lead to retinal detachment and blindness. ROP was traditionally treated with laser, but injection with a medication (A-VEGF) has become more common. In this study, the researchers will explore whether treatment of ROP affects visual function and retinal development. To explore this, the study group will examine children with ROP (but not treated) with children treated with either laser or injection. The researchers will compare the children's visual functions (e.g. visual acuity and visual field) and their retinas (e.g. central and peripheral retina).

Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Cerebral Visual Impairment

Cerebral visual impairment (CVI) is one of the leading causes of pediatric visual impairment and negatively impacts the development of motor, language, and cognitive skills. This study proposes to (1) establish a novel and easy to use CVI screening algorithm for infants and (2) develop CVI subtypes based on vision, motor, language, and cognition. The overarching goal is to identify CVI early and enhance our comprehension of CVI's impact on a child's development. The results will fundamentally change the approach to designing treatments for children with CVI.

In-person and Telehealth Visual Rehabilitation for Children With Low Vision

Restorative visual rehabilitation is frequently used to enhance the visual development and function of children with low vision. An important strategy within this field is visual stimulation, which is particularly used for infants and toddlers with low vision, as well as for children who have both developmental disabilities and low vision.This study has two primary objectives.The first objective is to examine the effect of using intensive, specific, and flickering black-and-white checkerboard patterns to enhance visual function in children with mild to moderate low vision. The second objective is to develop a visual stimulation program tailored for children with severe or profound multiple disabilities and visual impairments, and to evaluate its effectiveness.