Current Vision Studies
Term-born infants, 10 weeks old
Study 1: The Development of Vision and Refractive Errors
In this study, we are investigating normal visual development in healthy term-born infants. We will assess various aspects of vision, including visual acuity, retinal function, and refractive error (degree of nearsightedness or farsightedness). Participation involves a single session of approximately two hours. The visit is scheduled for when your baby is between 9 and 11 weeks of age.
At the beginning of the session, we will check your baby's visual acuity using the preferential looking test (PL).
We will then dilate your baby's pupils (the black spot in the middle of the eye) using the same drops that are used for regular, clinical eye exams. It takes the drops 30 minutes to work, and while they are taking effect, we will ask you and your child to sit in a dark room so the eyes can adapt to the dark. We will provide you with a red flashlight that you may use while you are waiting in the dark. The period of dark-adaptation will allow your baby's eyes to be as sensitive as possible for the test of retinal function, the electroretinogram (ERG). Anesthetic drops will be placed in one eye and a contact lens electrode placed on the surface of that eye. We will then record the ERG to a series of blue and red flashing lights or flickering patterns. The ERG will take about 20 minutes.
Finally, measurements will be made to find out if your child is nearsighted or farsighted. These are the measurements that eye doctors make to determine a prescription for glasses. This is done with a retinoscope, a small hand-held instrument, and a series of hand-held lenses placed in front of your child's eyes.
Risks involved in this study are the momentary discomfort of the dilating and anesthetizing drops, an unlikely allergic reaction to the drops, and the possibility of scraping (abrading) the surface of the eye with the contact electrode used for ERG recording. With the precautions that we take, the risk of abrasion is very low, and none of the participants in our prior ERG research studies have had a corneal abrasion. If your baby develops an abrasion, we will treat it promptly and follow up until it is resolved. Also, your child’s eyes will be sensitive to light for a few hours.
Participation in this research will be of no direct benefit to your child, but we hope that the data obtained will help us better diagnose and understand future patients with eye problems in the clinic.
The total time in the Ophthalmology Department is approximately 2 hours, including showing you the equipment, discussing the procedure and answering any questions. To thank you for your time, we will provide you with a token payment and a parking voucher for the Boston Children's Hospital garage. If you would like to participate, please contact us for more information.
In this study, we are investigating normal visual development in healthy term-born infants. We will assess various aspects of vision, including visual acuity, retinal function, and refractive error (degree of nearsightedness or farsightedness). Participation involves a single session of approximately two hours. The visit is scheduled for when your baby is between 9 and 11 weeks of age.
At the beginning of the session, we will check your baby's visual acuity using the preferential looking test (PL).
We will then dilate your baby's pupils (the black spot in the middle of the eye) using the same drops that are used for regular, clinical eye exams. It takes the drops 30 minutes to work, and while they are taking effect, we will ask you and your child to sit in a dark room so the eyes can adapt to the dark. We will provide you with a red flashlight that you may use while you are waiting in the dark. The period of dark-adaptation will allow your baby's eyes to be as sensitive as possible for the test of retinal function, the electroretinogram (ERG). Anesthetic drops will be placed in one eye and a contact lens electrode placed on the surface of that eye. We will then record the ERG to a series of blue and red flashing lights or flickering patterns. The ERG will take about 20 minutes.
Finally, measurements will be made to find out if your child is nearsighted or farsighted. These are the measurements that eye doctors make to determine a prescription for glasses. This is done with a retinoscope, a small hand-held instrument, and a series of hand-held lenses placed in front of your child's eyes.
Risks involved in this study are the momentary discomfort of the dilating and anesthetizing drops, an unlikely allergic reaction to the drops, and the possibility of scraping (abrading) the surface of the eye with the contact electrode used for ERG recording. With the precautions that we take, the risk of abrasion is very low, and none of the participants in our prior ERG research studies have had a corneal abrasion. If your baby develops an abrasion, we will treat it promptly and follow up until it is resolved. Also, your child’s eyes will be sensitive to light for a few hours.
Participation in this research will be of no direct benefit to your child, but we hope that the data obtained will help us better diagnose and understand future patients with eye problems in the clinic.
The total time in the Ophthalmology Department is approximately 2 hours, including showing you the equipment, discussing the procedure and answering any questions. To thank you for your time, we will provide you with a token payment and a parking voucher for the Boston Children's Hospital garage. If you would like to participate, please contact us for more information.