Following Ocular Changes in United States Optometry Students (FOCUS): Protocol Development and Baseline Data

Purpose: To develop a protocol and present pilot data for the longitudinal study, Following Ocular Changes in United States Optometry Students (FOCUS), which aims to collect comprehensive ocular data over two years in a population of young adults that are known to engage in intense near work. Methods: First year optometry students at the University of Houston College of Optometry underwent baseline measures. The right eye was dilated with 2.5% phenylephrine and two drops of 1% tropicamide. Measurements included cycloplegic autorefraction (Grand Seiko), biometry (LenStar), optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA, Spectralis), and ocular aberrations (COAS HD). Participants were classified into refractive error groups. OCT scans were analyzed for retinal and choroidal thickness, optic nerve head parameters, superficial and deep vascular density, and foveal avascular zone area. Results: Participant age was 23.12 ± 1.64 years (N = 86), with 65 females and 21 males. Mean right eye SER was -2.58 ± 3.13 D, which consisted of 6 hyperopes (7%), 19 emmetropes (22%), and 61 myopes (71%). Choroidal thickness was significantly associated with SER (P < 0.001). Bruch’s membrane opening area was 1.95 ± 0.50 mm and anterior lamina cribrosa depth was 411.28 ± 95.80 µm. Global minimum rim width was 364.23 ± 63.41 µm. Foveal avascular zone area and perimeter were associated with axial length (P < 0.05 for both). Optic nerve head metrics demonstrated variations by sector and eccentricity. Higher order root mean square wavefront error for a 5 mm pupil was 0.22 ± 0.08 µm. Conclusion: A protocol for the FOCUS study was developed and pilot data were collected. Limitations were identified and will be addressed in future data collection. Notable changes include increased recruitment efforts, additional measures, including intraocular pressure and peripheral refraction, and collection of subjective and objective behavioral data. A future direction is to expand the study into a multi-center collaboration involving optometry students from institutions across the United States to more accurately reflect the nation’s demographic diversity. Ultimately, findings will contribute to a better understanding of adult onset and progression of myopia and provide guidance in clinical decision-making regarding myopia interventions.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Physiological Optics and Vision Science

Grantor

University of Houston

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Keyzer, Matthew Marinus 1995-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Ostrin, Lisa A.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Marsack, Jason
• Cheng, Han

• Physiological optics

Language dc:language.iso

English

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10657/19594

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uh-ir.tdl.org:10657/19594