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THE CORNEA AND LASER EYE INSTITUTE RESEARCH PROGRAMS
At the Cornea and Laser Eye Institute, excellent vision is essential not only to its recipients, but also to the doctors and technicians that do the research to make better vision a reality. It's more than a responsibility - it's our mission.
In cooperation with the Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School and the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Sciences at Princeton University, we are dedicated to teaching and research to advance the field of vision correction. Our goal is to contribute to the continued exploration and advancement of the science and technology of corneal and refractive visual disorders.
RESEARCH AND EDUCATION GOALS
The miracle of sight not only affects the way we see, but the way we feel, and the way we live. We support patient centered clinical and basic research, teaching, and care activities that embrace our patient's social, physical, spiritual, and emotional needs.
Our current research efforts focus on a number of problems in vision correction:
- Laser and Refractive Surgery: At CLEI, we are interested in analyzing outcomes and optimizing results of laser and other types of refractive surgery. Dr. Peter Hersh, Director of CLEI and Professor at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School was lead author of the journal article reporting outcomes of the original trial of the excimer laser for the correction of nearsightedness that led to FDA approval in 1995. Outcomes analysis is an important concept in medicine today. Under the leadership of Dr. Kristen Fry, our director of clinical research, we have developed computer programs to properly track and analyze a number of outcome variables. Data analysis can then shed light on methods to improve results and minimize complications in the future.
- Corneal Optics: Using a variety of image analysis methods and computer programs, ongoing work at CLEI is exploring the optical function of the cornea. This work impacts patients with refractive errors, visual optical aberrations, or corneal scars and irregularities caused by disease. In this endeavor, we are privileged to collaborate with J. Warren Blaker, Ph.D., director of the Center for Lightwave Sciences and Technology at Fairleigh Dickenson University.
- New Laser Technologies: Collaborative work with laser scientists is exploring new technologies for eye surgery such as the short-pulsed, high-energy femtosecond laser. This work is done under the leadership of Professor Szymon Suckewer at Princeton University.
- Keratoconus and Specialty Contact Lenses: Keratoconus is a progressive disorder starting in a patient's teenage years that thins and distorts the cornea, leading to visual loss. Current treatments include highly evolved keratoconic contact lenses and corneal transplantation. The Center of Keratoconus at CLEI comprises surgeons, optometrists, and scientists dedicated to state-of-the-art patient treatment, patient education and outreach programs, and research looking at the corneal optics of keratoconus. Our specialty contact lens service is under the direction of Dr. Donald Hersh, O.D.
- Corneal Wound Healing and Inflammatory Disorders: Wound healing is essential after corneal surgery and in a number of corneal diseases. Research focuses on new therapeutic modalities to enhance wound healing in such conditions and is directed by David Chu, M.D. of CLEI. Dr. Chu is assistant professor at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School and a specialist in inflammatory disorders.
BRIDGING THE GAP
In all of our efforts, bridging the gap between patients and potential solutions is an integral part of our mission. While some research requires years of testing before being applied to patient lives, other research will yield immediate benefit to patients around the world. Some of our contributions over the past years include establishing a standardized classification of corneal optics after laser refractive surgery, outcomes analysis after LASIK and PRK, and textbooks on both laser refractive surgery and excimer laser treatment of corneal disorders.
