Can we slow, stop or reverse your myopia?

We need your help to see if we can by using a non-invasive approach grounded in
research on the role of ON pathways in human vision and the impact of weak ON pathways
in myopic individuals. By 2050, it is estimated that 1 in 2 people on the planet will have myopia
(the inability to see far objects clearly). We need to act now! We are recruiting children and
adults in Fairfield County, Connecticut. Review study FAQs, sign up, and/or listen to
Dr. Schulman's, lead investigator and owner of EyeCare Associates using the links below.

Practice Site: www.cteyecareassociates.com | Office: 203-255-4005 | Email: team@myopiastudyeca.com | Address: 2600 Post Road, Southport, CT 06890
CT Office Locations: Southport, Norwalk, Trumbull and Stamford | Copyright 2024 | Study Site Approved by Sterling IRB, IRB ID: 11655

Myopia Study FAQs

What is Myopia? (also known as Near Sightedness)
Myopia is a vision condition in which people can see close objects clearly, but objects farther away appear blurred.
There are risks associated with myopia progression, such as retinal detachments, myopia macular degeneration and cataracts.

What is the Purpose of the Study?
The purpose of the study is to slow, stop or reverse myopia progression in children and adults as measured by
eye axial length and auto-refraction.Does this clinical study have IRB approval?
Yes. Approved by Sterling IRB, IRB ID: 11655.

Who Is Eligible To Participate?
High level eligibility criteria includes:
- Between the ages of 8-12 (child) or 18-44 (adult) and in good general health
- Wear glasses or contact lenses
- Glasses or contact lens prescription is between -1 diopter and -4 diopters and astigmatism of <=1 diopter
- No previous use or current plans to start a myopia control program in the next 6 months.
   Common myopia control programs include: Atroprine, Orthokeratology, MiSoft Contact Lenses, specialty glasses
   (e.g., HAL, DIMS, DOT, PALS, prismatic bifocals, etc.)
- Additional eligibility criteria or questions can be reviewed with a study team member.

What Are the Costs to Participate?
Qualified participants who enroll will receive study-related treatment, tests and assessments at no cost.

What will I be required to do if I join the study?
Participation consists of three phases:
Screening - to determine eligibility and agreement to participate
Treatment - In office treatment which includes vision therapy, building healthier visual habits indoors and outdoors
and completing tests/assessments
Monitoring - periodic tests/assessments and brief lifestyle questionnaire

How Long Does Study Participation Last?
• Weekly 30 min. office visits for 16-18 weeks
• 2 visits over 18 months for adults and 4 visits for children for monitoring purposesWhere are the study locations in Fairfield County, Connecticut?
Southport (primary site), Norwalk and Trumbull.What is the Scientific Rationale for the Treatment Program?
The study approach is informed by a growing body of research on the role of ON pathways in human vision. Recent studies
demonstrate weak ON visual pathways in myopic individuals cause deficits in pupil constriction, image-retina stabilization
and contrast sensitivity which may then increase myopia in affected individuals. Recent studies also demonstrate that bright
surfaces, self motion, visual stimulation and the ability to take in sharp images at distance stimulate ON visual pathways.
The treatment program aims to change the visual diet and habits of study participants to see if myopia can be slowed,
stopped or reversed in treated individuals. Please scroll down for a select list of scientific references.

Scientific References - Highlights Only
A complete list of scientific references are available from one of our team members.

  • Global Prevalence of Myopia and High Myopia and Temporal Trends from 2000 through 2050. Holden BA, Fricke TR, Wilson DA, Jong M, Naidoo KS, Sankaridurg P, Wong TY, Naduvilath TJ, Resnikoff S., Ophthalmology, 2016.

  • Differences in visual stimulation between reading and walking and implications for myopia development, Poudel, Nasrabadi, Jin, Najafian, Alonso, Journal of Vision, 2023.

  • Contrast in ON-OFF pathway in human myopia. Poudel, Nasrabadi, Jin, Dellostritto, Dul, Viswanathan, Alonso, Journal of Neuroscience, November 2023.

  • Image luminance changes contrast sensitivity in visual cortex. Rahimi-Nasrabadi H, Jin J, Mazade R, Pons C, Najafian S, Alonso JM, Cell Reports, 2021.

  • Cortical mechanisms of visual brightness. Mazade R, Jin J, Rahimi-Nasrabadi H, Najafian S, Pons C, Alonso JM, Cell Reports, 2022.

  • Functional Specialization of ON and OFF Cortical Pathways for Global-Slow and Local-Fast Vision. Mazade R, Jin J, Pons C, Alonso JM, Cell Reports, 2019.

  • Motion changes response balance between ON and OFF visual pathways. Luo-Li G, Mazade R, Zaidi Q, Alonso JM, Freeman AW, Communications Biology, 2018.

  • Amblyopia Affects the ON Visual Pathway More than the OFF. Pons C, Jin J, Mazade R, Dul M, Zaidi Q, Alonso JM, Journal of Neuroscience, 2019.

  • Neuronal mechanisms underlying differences in spatial resolution between darks and lights in human vision. Pons C, Mazade R, Jin J, Dul MW, Zaidi Q, Alonso JM, Journal of Vision, 2017.

  • Neuronal and perceptual differences in the temporal processing of darks and lights. Komban SJ, Kremkow J, Jin J, Wang Y, Lashgari R, Li X, Zaidi Q, Alonso JM, Neuron, 2014.

  • Neuronal nonlinearity explains greater visual spatial resolution for darks than lights. Kremkow J, Jin J, Komban SJ, Wang Y, Lashgari R, Li X, Jansen M, Zaidi Q, Alonso JM, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 2014.

  • Faster thalamocortical processing for dark than light visual targets. MayJin J, Wang Y, Lashgari R, Swadlow HA, Alonso JM, Journal of Neuroscience, 2011.

Sign Up To Share Your Interest in Participating

Please share your contact details below with the study team. We look forward to connecting further.
High-level Eligibility Requirements:
- Prospective participant is 8-12 years old (child) or 18-44 (adult).
- Glasses or contact lenses have a prescription strength of between -1 Diopter and -4 Diopters
- No previous use or current plans to begin a myopia control program in the next 6 months
   Common myopia control programs include: Atroprine, Orthokeratology, MiSoft Contact Lenses, specialty glasses
   (e.g., HAL, DIMS, DOT, prismatic bifocals,etc.)
- Available to come into one of our offices - Southport, Norwalk or Trumbull, CT.
If you have questions, feel free to contact us at team@myopiastudyeca.com.

Dr. Randy Schulman, M.S., O.D., F.C.O.V.D., F.C.S.O.
Primary Clinical Investigator & Owner of EyeCare Associates (1 minute)

The Clinical Team

Our practice is committed to bringing the latest in developmental optometry, eye disease, and ocular health management,
as well as a natural/holistic approach to eye care so each patient receives the care they deserve for their best vision possible.
Dr. Randy Schulman and our other practitioners are published authors and speakers and are committed to excellence and
ongoing clinical research in the field of Optometry.

Main Practice Site: www.ctnyeyecare.com
Office: 203-255-4005 | Email: team@myopiastudyeca.com | 2600 Post Road, Southport, CT 06890
We have CT offices in Southport, Norwalk, Trumbull, Stamford and NY offices in Mohopac and Kisco.
Study Site Approved by Sterling IRB, IRB ID: 11655