Ehrlich receives K23 award to address quality of life in people with low vision

Joshua Ehrlich, M.D., M.P.H., an assistant professor of ophthalmology, will work to develop a patient-centered outcome measure of vision-dependent functioning in individuals with peripheral field loss, under a new K23 award from the National Institutes of Health.

The measure, which will be developed using the insights of patients, their caregivers and their vision care providers, would help evaluate and compare interventions for low vision rehabilitation strategies, and could be used in future clinical trials of interventions for this population.

“While not correctible, patients with this type of severe visual impairment can be helped to get more out of their remaining vision and improve their quality of life,” Ehrlich says. “Vision rehabilitation may improve patients’ functional abilities through the use of assistive devices and educational strategies, but the effectiveness of these options for patients with peripheral vision loss is not well known, since most research has focused on patients with central vision loss.”

Ehrlich’s mixed methods project includes mentors Noelle Carlozzi, Ph.D., associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation, who will offer expertise in measure development, and Paul Lee, M.D., J.D., professor of ophthalmology. Ehrlich is also a member of the U-M Center for Eye Policy & Innovation and the Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation.