Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications

Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications
Building 10, 10 CRC, Room 3-253
10 Center Drive, MSC 1204
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1204
Phone: (301) 496-6583
Fax: (301) 496-7295

On this page:

• Staff
• Recent Publications

The Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications (DECA) has three main functions: research, education, and consultation.

Research is the dominant function. It is the Division's mission to plan, develop, and conduct human population studies concerned with the cause, prevention, and treatment of eye disease and vision disorders, with emphasis on the major causes of blindness and visual impairment. This includes studies of incidence and prevalence in defined populations, prospective and retrospective studies of risk factors, natural history studies, clinical trials, genetic studies, and studies to evaluate diagnostic procedures.

The DECA carries out a program of education in biometric and epidemiologic principles and methods for the vision research community. This program consists of courses, workshops, a fellowship program for ophthalmologists, publications, and consultation and collaboration on research.

The Division provides biometric and epidemiologic assistance to National Eye Institute (NEI) intramural and extramural staff and to vision research workers elsewhere. The assistance ranges from consultation to collaboration as co-investigators. It provides scientific support to investigators at the NIH Clinical Center as well as extramurally. It provides scientific support to investigators at the NIH Clinical Center as well as extramurally.

DECA - Clinical Trials Branch

DECA-Biostatistics Branch

DECA - Epidemiology Branch

Diabetic Retinopathy

1. Chew EY, Ferris FL 3rd, Csaky KG, Murphy RP, Agron E, Thompson DJ, Reed GF, Schachat AP. The long-term effects of laser photocoagulation treatment in patients with diabetic retinopathy: the early treatment diabetic retinopathy follow-up study. Ophthalmology 2003; 110:1683-1689.
2. Cusick M, Chew EY, Chan CC, Kruth HS, Murphy RP, Ferris FL 3rd. Histopathology and regression of retinal hard exudates in diabetic retinopathy after reduction of elevated serum lipid levels. Ophthalmology 2003; 110:2126-2133.
3. Cusick M, Chew EY, Hoogwerf B, Agrón E, LieLing WU, Lindley A, Ferris III FL, and The Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study Research Group. Risk factors for renal replacement therapy in the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS), Early Treatment Diabetic Study Report No. 26. Kidney International 2004; 66:1173-1179.
4. The Eye Diseases Prevalence Research Group. The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy among adults in the United States. Arch Ophthalmol 2004; 122:552-563.
5. Cusick M, SanGiovanni JP, Chew E, Csaky, K, Hall-Shimmel K, Reed G, Caruso R, Ferris FL. Central Visual Function and the NEI-VFQ-25 Near and distance activities subscale scores in people with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. Am J Ophthalmol, 2005; 139:1042-1050.
6. Cusick M, Meleth AD, Agrón E, Fisher MR, Reed GF, Ferris III FL, Chew, EY and the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study Research Group. Associations of mortality and diabetes complications in patients with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study Report No. 27. Diabetes Care 2005; 28:617-625.
7. Wong TY, Klein R, Islam FMA, Cotch MF, Folsom AR, Klein BEK, Sharrett AR, Shea S: Diabetic retinopathy in a multi-ethnic cohort in the United States. Am J Ophthalmol 2006;141:446-455.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

1. Clemons TE, Chew EY, Bressler SB, McBee W for the AREDS Research Group. The National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS). AREDS Report No. 10. Arch Ophthalmol 2003;121:211-217.
2. Bressler NM, Bressler SB, Congdon NG, Ferris FL 3rd, Friedman DS, Klein R, Lindblad AS, Milton RC, Seddon JM; Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group. Potential public health impact of Age-Related Eye Disease Study results: AREDS Report No. 11. Arch Ophthalmol 2003; 121:1621-1624.
3. McBee WL, Lindblad AS, Ferris FL 3rd. Who should receive oral supplement treatment for age-related macular degeneration? Curr Opin Ophthalmol 2003 June; 14(3):159-62.
4. AREDS Research Group. Associations of mortality with ocular disorders and an intervention of high-dose antioxidants and zinc in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study. AREDS Report No. 13. Arch Ophthalmol; 2004:716-726.
5. Tuo J, Smith BC, Bojanowski CM, Meleth AD, Gery I, Csaky KG, Chew EY, Chan CC. The involvement of sequence variation and expression of CX3CR1 in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration. 2004. FASEB J; Published online June 18, 2004 doi:10.1096/04-1862fje.
6. The Eye Diseases Prevalence Research Group. Prevalence of age-related macular degeneration in the United States. Arch Ophthalmo. 2004; 122:564-572.
7. Clemons TE, Milton RC, Klein R, Seddon JM, Ferris FL 3rd and the Age Related Eye Disease Study Group. Risk factors for the incidence of advanced age-related macular degeneration in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), AREDS report no. 19. Ophthalmology 2005; 112:533-539.
8. Klein RJ, Zeiss C, Chew EY, Tsai J-Y, Sackler RS, Haynes C, Henning AK, SanGiovanni JP, Mane SM, Manye ST, Bracken MB, Ferris FL, Ott J, Barnstable C, Hoh J. Complement factor H polymorphism in age-related macular degeneration. Science, Vol 308, Issue 5720, 385-389, 15 April 2005.
9. Ferris FL, Davis MD, Clemons TE, Lee LY, Chew EY, Lindblad AS, Milton RC, Bressler SB, Klein R; Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) Research Group. A simplified severity scale for age-related macular degeneration: AREDS Report No. 18. Arch Ophthalmol. 2005;123:1570-4.
10. Klein R, Klein BEK, Knudtson MD, Wong TY, Cotch MF, Liu K, Burke G, Saad MF, Jacobs DR: The prevalence of age-related macular degeneration in four racial/ethnic groups in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Ophthalmology 2006;113(3):373-380.
11. Klein R, Klein BEK, Knudtson MD, Cotch MF, Wong TY, Liu K, Burke G, Saad MF, Jacobs DR, Sharrett AR: Subclinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and age-related macular degeneration in a multi-racial cohort: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Arch Ophthamol 2007;125(4):534-43.
12. SanGiovanni JP, Agron E, Clemons TE, Chew EY. Omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid intake is inversely associated with 12-year progression to advanced AMD. Arch Ophthalmol 2008 (In press).
13. SanGiovanni JP, Chew EY, Clemons TE, Davis MD, Ferris FL, Gensler G, Kurinij N, Lindblad A, Milton RC, Seddon JM, Sperduto RD, AREDS Research Group. The relationship of dietary lipid intake and age-related macular degeneration: a case-control study in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study. AREDS Report Number 20. Arch Ophthalmol 2007; 125; 671-679.
14. SanGiovanni JP, Chew EY, Clemons TE, Ferris FL 3rd, Gensler G, Lindblad AS, Milton RC, Seddon JM, Sperduto RD, AREDS Research Group. The relationship of dietary carotenoids, vitamin E, and vitamin C with age-related macular degeneration: a case-control study in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study. AREDS Report Number 22. Arch Ophthalmol 2007; 125; 1225-1232.
15. Klein R, Knudtson MD, Klein BE, Wong TY, Cotch MF, Liu K, Cheng CY, Burke GL, Saad MF, Jacobs DR Jr, Sharrett AR. Inflammation, complement factor H, and age-related macular degeneration the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Ophthalmology 2008 Jun 4. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 18538409 [PubMed
16. Nguyen TT, Wang JJ, Sharrett AR, Islam FM, Klein R, Klein BE, Cotch MF, Wong TY. Relationship of retinal vascular caliber with diabetes and retinopathy: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Diabetes Care 2008;31:544-549.PMID: 18070990 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE
17. SanGiovanni JP, Chew EY, Agrón E, Clemons TE, Ferris FL 3rd, Gensler G, Lindblad AS, Milton RC, Seddon JM, Klein R, Sperduto RD for the AREDS Research Group. The relationship of dietary lipid intake with incident age-related macular degeneration. AREDS Report Number 23. Arch Ophthalmol 2008;126; 1274-1279.

Refractive Errors

1. The Eye Diseases Prevalence Research Group. The prevalence of refractive errors among adults in the United States, Western Europe, and Australia. Arch Ophthalmol. 2004; 122:495-505.
2. Peet JA, Cotch MF, Wojciechowski R, Bailey-Wilson JE, Stambolian D: Heritability and familial aggregation of refractive error in the Old Order Amish. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2007 Sep;48(9):4002-6.
3. Vitale S, Ellwein L, Cotch MF, Ferris FL 3rd, Sperduto R. Prevalence of refractive error in the United States, 1999-2004. Arch Ophthalmol 2008;126:1111-1119. PMID: 18695106 [PubMed]

Statistical Methods

1. Beck RW, Moke PS, Turpin AH, Ferris FL, SanGiovanni JP, Johnson CA, Birch EE, Chandler DL, Cox TA, Blair RC, Kraker RY. A computerized method of visual acuity testing: adaptation of the early treatment of diabetic retinopathy study testing protocol. Am J Ophthalmol 2003; 135:194-205.

Cataract

2. The Eye Diseases Prevalence Research Group. Prevalence of cataract and pseudophakia/aphakia among adults in the United States. Arch Ophthalmol 2004; 122:487-494.
3. Datiles MB III, Ansari RR, Suh KI, Vitale S, Reed GF, Zigler JS Jr., Ferris FL III. Clinical detection of pre-cataractous lens protein changes using dynamic light scattering. Arch Ophthalmol 2008 (in press).

Glaucoma

4. The Eye Diseases Prevalence Research Group. Prevalence of open-angle glaucoma among adults in the United States. Arch Ophthalmol. 2004; 122:532-538.
5. Jampel HD, Vitale S, Ding Y, Quigley H, Friedman D, Congdon N, Zeimer R. Test-retest variability in structural and functional parameters of glaucoma damage in the Glaucoma Imaging Longitudinal Study (GILS). J Glaucoma 2006;15:152-157.
6. Jampel H, Vitale S, Ding Y, Knezevich F, III, Quigley H, Zeimer R. Retinal thickness in eyes of older normal individuals and its implication for the diagnosis of glaucoma. J Glaucoma 2008 (in press).
7. Jampel HD, Friedman D, Quigley H, Vitale S, Miller R, Knezevich F, Ding Y. Agreement among glaucoma specialists in assessing progressive disc changes from photographs in open-angle glaucoma patients. Am J Ophthalmol. 2008 Sep 12. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 18790472

Ocular Surface Disease

8. Smith JA, Vitale S, Reed GF, Grieshaber SA, Goodman LA, Vanderhoof VH, Calis DA, Nelson LM. Dry eye signs and symptoms in women with premature ovarian failure. Arch Ophthalmol 2004;122:151-156.
9. Vitale S. CLEK study reports on quality of life (editorial). Am J Ophthalmol 2004;138:637-638.
10. Vitale S, Goodman LA, Reed GF, Smith JA. Comparison of the NEI-VFQ and OSDI questionnaires in patients with Sjögren's syndrome-related dry eye. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 2004:2:44 .

Visual Impairment

11. The Eye Diseases Prevalence Research Group. Causes and prevalence of visual impairment among adults in the United States. Arch Ophthalmol 2004; 122:477-485.
12. Cotch MF, Janiszewski R, Klein RJ, Turczyn KM, Brett KM, Ryskulova A, for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Visual impairment and use of eye-care services and protective eyewear among children - United States, 2002. MMWR 2005; 54:425-429
13. Vitale S, Cotch MF, Sperduto R: Prevalence of visual impairment in the United States. JAMA 2006;295(18):2158-63.
14. Vitale S, Cotch MF, Ellwein L, Sperduto R: Costs of refractive correction of distance visual impairment in the United States, 1999-2002. Ophthalmol 2006;113(12):2163-70.
15. Ryskulova A, Turczyn K, Makuc DM, Cotch MF, Klein RJ, Janiszewski R. Self-reported age-related eye diseases and visual impairment in the United States: results of the 2002 National Health Interview Survey. Am J Public Health 2008;98:454-461.PMID: 18235074 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE].

Other

1. Cusick M, Chew EY, Ferris F III, Cox TA, Chan CC, Kador PF. Effects of aldose reductase inhibitors and galactose withdrawal on fluorescein angiographic lesions in galactose-fed dogs. Arch Ophthalmol 2003;121:1745-1751.
2. Ferris FL III, A new treatment for ocular neovascularization. N Engl J Med 2004;351:2863-2865.
3. SanGiovanni JP. Chew EY. The role of omega-3 long-chain polylunsaturated fatty acids in health and disease of the retina. Prog Retinal Eye Res 2005 ;24:87-138.
4. Chew EY. Ocular manifestations of von Hippel-Lindau's Disease: clinical and genetic investigations (American Ophthalmological Society thesis): Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc 2005;103:495-511.
5. Nussenblatt RB, Kim J, Thompson DJ, Davis MD, Chew E, Ferris FL, Buggage R. Vitamin E in the treatment of uveitis-associated macular edema. Am J Ophthalmol 2006;141:193-194.
6. Wong TY, Islam A, Klein R, Klein BE, Cotch MF, Castro C, Sharrett AR, Shahar E: Retinal vascular caliber, cardiovascular risk factors and inflammation: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2006;47:2341-2350.
7. Cusick M, Charles M, Agron E, SanGiovanni JP, Ferris FL, Charles S. Anatomical and visual results of vitreoretinal surgery for Stage 5 retinopathy of prematurity. Retina. 2006; 26: 729-735.
8. Harris TA, Launer LJ, Eirksdottir G, Kjartansson O, Jonsson PV, Sigurdsson G, Thorgeirsson G, Aspelund T, Cotch MF, Hoffman H, Gudnason V for the Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility - Reykjavik Study Investigators: Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility - Reykjavik Study: multidisciplinary applied phenomics. Am J Epidemiol 2007;165:1076-1087.
9. Wong TY, Klein R, Islam FMA, Cotch MF, Couper DJ, Klein BEK, Hubbard LD, Sharrett AR: Three-year incidence and cumulative prevalence of retinopathy: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. Am J Ophthalmol 2007;143:970-976.
10. Cheung N, Bluemke DA, Klein R, Sharrett AR, Islam FMA, Cotch MF, Klein BEK, Criqui MH, Wong TY: Relation of retinal arteriolar caliber to left ventricular mass and remodeling: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. J Am Coll Cardiol 2007; 50:48-55. .
11. Cheung N, Sharrett AR, Klein R, Criqui MH, Islam FMA, Macura KJ, Cotch MF, Klein BEK, Wong TY. Aortic distensibility and retinal arteriolar narrowing: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Hypertension 2007;50:617-622.
12. Cheung N, Islam FM, Jacobs DR Jr, Sharrett AR, Klein R, Polak JF, Cotch MF, Klein BE, Ouyang P, Wong TY.Arterial compliance and retinal vascular caliber in cerebrovascular disease. Ann Neurol 2007;62:618-624. PMID: 17918248[PubMed].
13. Wong TY, Cheung N, Islam FMA,Klein R, Criqui MH, Cotch MF, Carr JJ, Klein BE Sharrett AR. Relation of retinopathy to coronary artery calcification: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Am J Epidemiol 2008;167:51-58.
14. Cheung N, Klein R, Wang JJ, Cotch MF, Islam FA, Klein BE, Cushman M, Wong TY. Traditional and novel cardiovascular risk factors for retinal vein occlusion: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2008 Jun 6. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 18539932[PubMed ]
15. Chucair AJ, Rotstein NP, SanGiovanni JP, During A, Chew EY, Politi LE. Lutein and zeaxanthin protect photoreceptors from apoptosis induced by oxidative stress: relation with docosahexaenoic acid. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2007; 48; 5168-5177.
16. Connor KM, SanGiovanni JP, Lofqvist C, Aderman CM, Chen J, Higuchi A, Hong S, Pravda E, Majchrzak S, Carper D, Hellstrom A, Kang JX, Chew EY, Salem N, Serhan CN, Smith LEH. Increasing dietary omega-3 PUFA reduces pathological angiogenesis via regulation of local resolvins, protectins and TNFa. Nature Medicine 2007; 13; 868-873.
17. Qiu C, Cotch MF, Sigurdsson S, Garcia M, Klein R, Jonasson F, Klein BE, Eiriksdottir G, Harris TB, van Buchem MA, Gudnason V, Launer LJ. Retinal and cerebral microvascular signs and diabetes: the age, gene/environment susceptibility-Reykjavik study. Diabetes 2008;57:1645-1650. PMID: 18332097 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
18. Alexander RL Jr, Miller NA, Cotch MF, Janiszewski R. Factors that influence the receipt of eye care. Am J Health Behav 2008;32:547-556.PMID: 18241139 [PubMed - in process].