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Long-term Neural Adaptation to Ocular Optics and Its Impact on Suprathreshold Visual Functions

Award Number: R01EY014999
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/02/2003
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2031

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Long-term Neural Adaptation to Ocular Optics and Its Impact on Suprathreshold Visual Functions - There is increasing evidence that uncorrected ocular aberrations not only degrade retinal image quality but also lead to long-term neural adaptation, altering how visual information is processed and perceived. This adaptation can cause visual performance to diverge significantly from predictions based solely on optical theory: perceived image quality often exceeds expectations given degraded optics, while the benefits of full correction can fall short. The extent, mechanisms, and reversibility of the adaptation to the imperfect optics, particularly in relation to suprathreshold contrast perception, stereovision, and oculomotor behavior remain largely unknown. Addressing these fundamental questions is essential to advancing our understanding of neural system processing and plasticity. Proposed experiments leverage a unique combination of technologies including binocular adaptive optics (AO) visual simulation, psychophysics, and high-resolution retinal imaging. The project uses individuals with keratoconus (KC), a progressive corneal condition that introduces severe and often asymmetric high-order aberrations, providing a powerful human model for studying neural adaptation. Aim 1 investigates how long-term adaptation to degraded optics affects suprathreshold contrast perception. Despite highly aberrated retinal inputs, individuals often perceive object contrast as stable. We will test whether this constancy is maintained through dynamic, context-dependent scaling. Preliminary data indicate that contrast constancy is preserved at low-to-mid spatial frequencies (SFs), even after full AO correction, but breaks down at high SFs in KC eyes, suggesting a loss of amplification mechanisms due to lack of long-term high-SF input. We will explore whether such losses are reversible with restored high-SF stimulation. Aim 2 determines how long-term adaptation to habitual optics affects stereovision. Stereopsis is highly sensitive to interocular differences in optical quality, and our preliminary results show persistent stereo deficits in KC eyes, even after full correction of the aberrations. We will probe whether adaptation occurs monocularly, binocularly, or both, and assess the roles of phase adaptation in mediating stereo performance. We will also examine whether stereoacuity can be improved through re-adaptation to corrected optics. Aim 3 examines how degraded optics influence fixation behavior and the preferred retinal locus (PRL). Our preliminary data reveal systematic vertical displacements of the PRL in KC eyes, correlated with disease severity. We hypothesize that these shifts reflect compensatory strategies to optimize retinal image quality. To test the hypothesis, we plan to use a scanning wavefront sensing and AO linescan ophthalmoscope, enabling to quantify retinal image quality around the fovea, as well as the PRL and characteristics of fixational eye movements with high spatial and temporal precision. Overall, this work will reveal how the visual system adapts to and recovers from chronic exposure to poor optics. The findings will deepen our understanding of neural compensation and plasticity, and inform clinical strategies for personalized vision correction and restoration.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $384,822 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM	4300 MARTIN LUTHER KING BLVD	HOUSTON	TX	77204	HARRIS	USA	Vision Research	000	16	7/1/2026	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$384,822
														Subtotal = $384,822

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $454,335 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM	4800 W CALHOUN ST STE 316	HOUSTON	TX	77004	HARRIS	USA	Vision Research	001	15	8/10/2022	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$441,527
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM	4800 W CALHOUN ST STE 316	HOUSTON	TX	77004	HARRIS	USA	Vision Research	003	15	9/19/2022	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$371,463
2022	2021	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	500 JOSEPH C WILSON BLVD	ROCHESTER	NY	14627	MONROE	USA	Vision Research	000	14	8/8/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$12,808
2022	2021	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	500 JOSEPH C WILSON BLVD	ROCHESTER	NY	14627	MONROE	USA	Vision Research	002	14	9/19/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$371,463
														Subtotal = $454,335

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $414,138 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	500 JOSEPH C WILSON BLVD	ROCHESTER	NY	14627	MONROE	USA	Vision Research	000	14	4/2/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$414,138
														Subtotal = $414,138

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $426,946 )
2020	2020	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	500 JOSEPH C WILSON BLVD	ROCHESTER	NY	14627	MONROE	USA	Vision Research	000	13	2/25/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$426,946
														Subtotal = $426,946

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $426,946 )
2019	2019	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	500 JOSEPH C WILSON BLVD	ROCHESTER	NY	14627	MONROE	USA	Vision Research	000	12	2/22/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$426,946
														Subtotal = $426,946

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $483,946 )
2018	2018	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	500 JOSEPH C WILSON BLVD	ROCHESTER	NY	14627	MONROE	USA	Vision Research	001	11	2/8/2018	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$483,946
2018	2016	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	500 JOSEPH C WILSON BLVD	ROCHESTER	NY	14627	MONROE	USA	Vision Research	000	10	2/5/2018	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$0
2018	2016	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	500 JOSEPH C WILSON BLVD	ROCHESTER	NY	14627	MONROE	USA	Vision Research	002	10	6/22/2018	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$0
														Subtotal = $483,946

Issue Date FY: 2017 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2017	2016	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	500 JOSEPH C WILSON BLVD	ROCHESTER	NY	14627	MONROE	USA	Vision Research	001	10	9/15/2017	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$0
2017	2015	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	500 JOSEPH C WILSON BLVD	ROCHESTER	NY	14627	MONROE	USA	Vision Research	000	9	11/17/2016	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2016 ( Subtotal = $381,804 )
2016	2016	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	1325 MOUNT HOPE AVE, SUITE 260	ROCHESTER	NY	14642	MONROE	USA	Vision Research	000	10	7/4/2016	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$381,804
														Subtotal = $381,804

Issue Date FY: 2015 ( Subtotal = $386,933 )
2015	2015	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	1325 MOUNT HOPE AVE, SUITE 260	ROCHESTER	NY	14642	MONROE	USA	Vision Research	000	9	5/14/2015	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$386,933
														Subtotal = $386,933

Issue Date FY: 2014 ( Subtotal = $376,075 )
2014	2014	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	1325 MOUNT HOPE AVE, SUITE 260	ROCHESTER	NY	14642	MONROE	USA	Vision Research	002	8	6/23/2014	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$376,075
2014	2013	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	1325 MOUNT HOPE AVE, SUITE 260	ROCHESTER	NY	14642	MONROE	USA	Vision Research	001	7	6/9/2014	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$356,990
2014	2013	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	1325 MOUNT HOPE AVE, SUITE 260	ROCHESTER	NY	14642	MONROE	USA	Vision Research	000	7	5/15/2014	COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$356,990
														Subtotal = $376,075

Issue Date FY: 2013 ( Subtotal = $356,990 )
2013	2013	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	1325 MOUNT HOPE AVE, SUITE 260	ROCHESTER	NY	14642	MONROE	USA	Vision Research	000	7	5/30/2013	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$356,990
														Subtotal = $356,990

Issue Date FY: 2010 ( Subtotal = $378,742 )
2010	2010	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	1325 MOUNT HOPE AVE, SUITE 260	ROCHESTER	NY	14642	MONROE	USA	Trans-NIH Recovery Act Research Support	000	6	7/15/2010	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$378,742
														Subtotal = $378,742

Issue Date FY: 2009 ( Subtotal = $385,489 )
2009	2009	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	1325 MOUNT HOPE AVE, SUITE 260	ROCHESTER	NY	14642	MONROE	USA	Trans-NIH Recovery Act Research Support	000	5	7/15/2009	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$385,489
														Subtotal = $385,489

Issue Date FY: 2006 ( Subtotal = $269,147 )
2006	2006	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	1325 MOUNT HOPE AVE, SUITE 260	ROCHESTER	NY	14620	MONROE	USA	Vision Research	000	4	9/1/2006	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$269,147
														Subtotal = $269,147

Issue Date FY: 2005 ( Subtotal = $275,625 )
2005	2005	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	1325 MOUNT HOPE AVE, SUITE 260	ROCHESTER	NY	14620	MONROE	USA	Vision Research	000	3	9/12/2005	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$275,625
														Subtotal = $275,625

Issue Date FY: 2004 ( Subtotal = $267,000 )
2004	2004	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	1325 MOUNT HOPE AVE, SUITE 260	ROCHESTER	NY	14620	MONROE	USA	Vision Research	000	2	7/26/2004	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$267,000
														Subtotal = $267,000

Issue Date FY: 2003 ( Subtotal = $261,825 )
2003	2003	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	1325 MOUNT HOPE AVE, SUITE 260	ROCHESTER	NY	14620	MONROE	USA	Vision Research	000	1	9/2/2003	NEW	$261,825
														Subtotal = $261,825

Grand Total All Awards = $5,930,763

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Long-term Neural Adaptation to Ocular Optics and Its Impact on Suprathreshold Visual Functions

Award Number: R01EY014999

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/02/2003

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2031

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