Personalized Care for Corneal Ulcers

Innovative research by Mia Woodward, M.D., M.S., in the field of corneal ulcers, also known as microbial keratitis (MK), has earned her a National Eye Institute R01 grant. The study— a collaborative effort with Aravind Eye Care and other investigators from U-M and Duke University—is focused on creating images and data tools to understand the severity of corneal ulcers, a leading cause of blindness worldwide, and to help physicians with treatment and risk stratification decisions. There are currently no uniform strategies to measure a patient’s MK condition or risk factors. This study will provide novel insights into the features associated with clinical outcomes for MK, which will allow clinicians to have practical, low-cost strategies and technologies (imaging and electronic health records) to quantify MK features and to risk-score patients.

Applying readily available low-cost technologies to new care models will enable eye problems to be addressed before they cause damage to the eye and permanent vision loss in communities across the US and around the world. By personalizing treatments earlier and more accurately, Dr. Woodward's study seeks to improve patient outcomes, especially in vulnerable populations.