Research Programs

• Amblyopia Treatment
• Evaluation of Keratoconus (CLEK)
• Convergence Insufficiency Treatment (CITT)
• Correction of Myopia (COMET)
• Correction of Myopia (COMET2)
• Myopia in COMET Children (COSMICC)
• IVI Research
• Molecular Mechanisms
• Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS)
• Vision Screening in Preschoolers

July, 2003

Mitchell Scheiman Receives Research Grant
from Pennsylvania Lions 

Pennsylvania College of Optometry faculty member, Mitchell Scheiman, O.D., has received a $10,800 grant from the Pennsylvania Lions to further his research on the treatment of convergence insufficiency (CI). 

The Lions' grant helps to cover the costs of the preliminary information-gathering phase to study the feasibility of the project.  Scheiman is the study chairman of the multi-site project, Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial (CITT), which will compare the benefits and costs of two currently accepted treatment approaches for patients with CI.  CI is one of the largest binocular problems in the world, affecting approximately five percent of children and adults in the United States.  Its symptoms include double vision, eyestrain, headaches and blurred vision while reading, and it is caused by in inability of the extra-ocular muscles that move the eye to maintain fixation on a near point.  For example, the eyes drift apart while reading and the patient has to use excessive muscular effort to maintain the eyes in the correct position. 

Seven optometric colleges are taking part in the study throughout the U.S.  In the proposed CITT, 72 patients between the ages of 9 and 18 years will be randomly assigned to groups with either reading glasses with special prisms or reading glasses without prisms.  The patients will be later evaluated and the level of improvement for each treatment method will be measured. 

Felix Barker, O.D., Director of Research at the College, commented on the importance of the study, "Dr. Scheiman is addressing critical issues in the vision of children.  These issues lead to improved understanding of how vision is related to function and comfort and can have tremendous impact on their development and education.  We are delighted that his important work will be supported by the Lions." 

The Pennsylvania Lions have consistently supported research in giving seed money grants to faculty who are collecting pilot data to justify National Eye Institute funding.  The Lions have given close to $1 million in the last 20 years to PCO faculty, all in small grants.