Background
The Northern Ireland Childhood Errors of Refraction (NICER) study, part funded by the College of Optometrists, is the largest ever in the UK to examine changes in children’s vision and cycloplegic refractive error over time. Since 2006, the College has funded researchers at Ulster University to undertake a longitudinal study of refractive error, ocular biometry and visual status. The latest findings from this ongoing study provide vital information on how children’s eyes grow and change in the 21st century and inform how the profession’s practice and advice might change in view of these findings.
We are now supporting Phase 4 of the NICER project, which will extend data collection to nine years, making it the longest prospective population-based study of refractive error (using cyclopegia) in childhood and early adulthood. Check back here for updates.