The foundation for leading edge patient care lies in the pursuit of new knowledge.  Through basic and clinical research the Southern California College of Optometry conducts various National Eye Institute and industry sponsored projects across several clinical disciplines.  Clinical trials have been the linchpin in medical breakthroughs.  It is our goal to continually increase the boundaries of our knowledge base.  We have several ground-breaking research efforts in progress in the areas of:

Pediatric Eye Care

Amblyopia Treatment Trial Study (ATS)

1.     ATS 1 - treatment study of amblypoia ("lazy eye") in children less than 7 years old

2.     ATS 2 A/B - treatment study of amblypoia in children less than 7 years old

3.     ATS 2C - observational study on the recurrence of amblyopia

4.     ATS 3 - treatment study of amblyopia in children between the ages of 7-18 years old

5.     ATS 4 - treatment study of amblyopia in children less than 7 years old

Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial Study (CITT)
Treatment study of convergence insufficiency in subjects 9 to 30 years old

Collaborative Assessment of Myopia Progression with Pirenzepine Study (CAMPP)
Treatment study of myopia progression in children 8-12 years old

Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Ethnicity and Refractive Error Study (CLEERE)
Observational study of refractive error changes in 1st – 8th graders

Dry Eye Syndrome

  Evaluation of Novel Methods and Treatment Study
Treatment study of dry eye      

Contact Lenses

Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Keratoconus Study(CLEK)
Observational study of the natural progression of keratoconus

Multi-Purpose Contact Lens Solution Study
Efficacy study of a multi-purpose contact lens solution in Japanese-Americans

Evaluation of Carboxymethylcellulose with Contact Lens Wear Study
Efficacy study of a novel method n contact lens care

Refractive Error Surgery

Post-LASIK Dry Eye Evaluation Study
Observational study of dry eye effects following LASIK