Research Areas
Research and Innovation Revolutionizes Personalize Pediatric Ophthalmology Care
As part of a leading academic medical center, our physician scientists collaborate with multispecialty teams to integrate ophthalmology care within the full spectrum of clinical services for seamless comprehensive care. Our patients gain access to both advanced and emerging treatments and technologies not yet available in private practices or community hospital settings, with ophthalmologists and optometrist in close proximity to best meet their vision health needs. Our research efforts are integral to providing state-of-the-art ophthalmology care at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s and beyond.
Our physicians and scientists collaborate locally, nationally, and internationally to advance the field of pediatric ophthalmology. Our efforts accelerate the rate at which new drug therapies, devices, technologies, and procedures are available to diagnose, treat and manage eye conditions in children, from the most routine to the highly complex. We are among the ophthalmology leaders using artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and telemedicine to enhance diagnostic precision, personalize treatment, improve continuity of care, and provide state-of-the-art medical education surgical training nationally, and internationally.
Babies in the Neonatology Intensive Care Unit are prone to eye diseases that can blind them, but if caught early through close monitoring, there is the potential to minimize or halt their development. Retinopathy of prematurity requires frequent monitoring for possible retinal detachment, to prevent long-term vision impairment, including blindness. To examine preemie patients more comfortably and accurately, Faruk H. Örge MD, FAAO, FAAP, developed the Rainbow Speculum, a small device designed to gently hold open the eyes of tiny infants in the neonatal intensive care unit as they are examined for potential eye diseases, including ROP. Now also working on teaching ROP evaluation and state of the art treatment worldwide through a Virtual Reality Platform remotely.
Childhood glaucoma is relatively rare. However, as in adults, the characteristic buildup of fluid in the eye increases ocular pressure, potentially damaging the optic nerve, which can lead to blindness. To improve glaucoma management in patients, Faruk H. Örge MD, FAAO, FAAP has developed a device to drain fluid buildup and lower ocular pressure. The micro device, called the “FORGE Device” consists of multiple tubes that bypass the eye’s clogged drainage mechanism and facilitate the flow of intraocular fluid. The device is an improvement over existing devices containing only single tubes, which limits their capacity to drain fluid from the eye. With more than 80 million people living with glaucoma worldwide, the device has the potential to help countless patients.
Pediatric eye disorders like congenital/developmental cataracts, congenital/juvenile glaucoma, albinism, and high myopia before pre-school age, are often genetic. Understanding the genetic roots of disease helps with early detection and the timely treatment of conditions that require long-term management or preventative techniques to protect or improve ocular health.
Our expansive ophthalmology research and academic programs provide breadth and depth of clinical experience and data that help in the early identification and treatment of genetic eye conditions, with access to genetic counseling and other services. Our highly experienced clinicians and researchers are strongly positioned to share valuable insight with other health care providers, patients, and families, to ensure patients receive the information and treatment they need to effectively manage and treat their eye conditions to preserve their long-term vision health.
UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s is leading the way for cutting-edge research and myopia regression care. Researchers and eye specialists at UH Rainbow are among those collaborating globally to better understand lifestyle, environmental, and genetic factors contributing to the rapid increase of myopia. They are focusing closely on myopia prevention, early detection, and disease management to slow myopia progression, and to mitigate the risk of patients developing more serious eye conditions or vision impairment in their adulthood.
The Myopia Management Clinic, led by Adam J. Peiffer, OD, MS, a pediatric optometrist in the Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology, focuses on early myopia detection and treatment to reduce the long-term risk of developing complications and blindness. The care and resources provided aim to not only treat myopia, but to educate patients and families on the importance of managing myopia to avoid serious eye diseases later in life.
Clinical studies on the use of soft multifocal contact lenses (BLINK) and daily drops of atropine (CHAMP and LAMP) provide patients with more options for myopia management and regression. Early clinical studies have shown that atropine, a drug used to dilate pupils, can limit, or prevent the elongation of the eye that causes myopia in children ages 6-10 years.
Currently, we are part of a multicenter clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of OT-101 (Atropine Sulfate 0.01%) in reducing myopia progression in children. Another, soon-to-be launched clinical study will examine if atropine drops can prevent myopia from developing. The study in collaboration with the Ohio State University College of Optometry seeks to enroll siblings of current myopia patients.
Amblyopia is the most common cause of vision loss in children. Treatment for amblyopia includes special eye drops or patching the “good” eye to force the “lazy” eye to work. Our eye specialists are among the leaders in Ohio working to increase knowledge about amblyopia, its treatment, and prevention.
UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s is part of The Ohio Amblyope Registry. This statewide initiative for children with amblyopia and their families is comprised of Ohio ophthalmologists, optometrists, and leading Children’s Hospitals in the state, which distribute free eye patches and provide information and support services for children diagnosed with amblyopia.
UH Rainbow Babies & Children's is fortunate to collaborate in our research with five different engineering departments within our neighbor Case Western Reserve University. Together we have a deeper understanding of how AI can be implemented into much of our research by. We are currently trying to understand the algorithms and implications of images to diagnosis faster and more accurately. In addition, with thousands of patients in a database, AI can help us make sense of the data and demographics to better understand ophthalmologic diseases and conditions.