Research Recruitment

Heather Anderson, OD, PhD, and her team are seeking children with Down syndrome to participate in the vision studies.
By Emma Grant, MA, Clinical Research Coordinator
Dr. Heather Anderson dressed in a black pantsuit with a red blouse standing next to the "Research is Knowledge" sign at the college.

Research opportunities at the Wildermuth Optometric Research Clinic are in abundance this season! Studies ranging in topics from amblyopia to contact lenses and dry eye disease are currently enrolling. Two studies conducted by Heather Anderson, OD, PhD, are seeking children with Down syndrome to participate in the vision studies.

Adults and children with Down syndrome typically have high prescriptions that are challenging to determine, particularly since individuals with Down syndrome often do not see 20/20 even after correction with glasses. The goal of these studies is to get patients closer to 20/20 by using prescriptions optimized for the unique optical qualities of these patients. In addition, the studies aim to determine how much prescriptions can be expected to change from year to year to inform timing of follow-up care. A previous study conducted by Dr. Anderson in adults showed that optimized prescriptions determined from computer analysis of detailed images of the eyes’ optics performed as well as prescriptions determined by a clinician with 30 years of experience working with this patient population. Dr. Anderson is now testing this prescribing strategy in children with Down syndrome to see if even better visual performance can be obtained in younger patients.

The studies are enrolling children with Down syndrome who are 5-17 years of age and do not have nystagmus. Participants will come to Wildermuth Optometric Research Clinic for all study visits. The study procedures are similar to normal eye exams and pictures of the eye are taken. The researchers then analyze the images to determine the possible prescriptions for the participant. Participants are asked to return to the college to assess which prescription is optimal.

Dr. Anderson’s hope for this study is that “new tools will be developed that will aid practitioners who are not as experienced serving this community so that families who struggle to find eye care providers will be able to get greater access to care.”

To learn more about this research, contact Dr. Anderson anderson.3881@osu.edu or the study coordinator Jill Myers at myers.799@osu.edu.

Participating in research is a great way to advance the science of vision care. 

Learn more about research at the college here

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