National Eye Institute Awards $954,770 for a 5-Year Study on Lazy Eye

Krista Kelly, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, Crystal Charity Ball Pediatric Vision Laboratory, studies pediatric eye disorders under the direction of Dr. Eileen Birch at the Retina Foundation of the Southwest. Dr. Kelly recently was awarded an NIH Pathway to Independence award from the National Eye Institute, part of the federal government’s National Institutes of Health. She was awarded $954,770 to study the effects lazy eye (ambylopia) has on a child’s reading speed and eye-hand coordination. Dr. Kelly will aid in developing more effective amblyopia treatments and ensure that children with lazy eye receive the academic accommodations they need to succeed in school and sports.

About Lazy Eye

Lazy eye (amblyopia) is one of the most serious and most common threats to a child’s vision. Amblyopia is reduced vision – uncorrectable with glasses – in an eye that has not received adequate use during infancy or early childhood. Amblyopia affects 1 or 2 children in every classroom and can cause a permanent loss of vision and depth perception if not detected and treated early enough.