Our research proposal has been newly selected for the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (S) by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) for fiscal year 2026.
Research Title:
Creation of “Proactive Vision Care”: A Preventive Medicine Revolution Pioneered by Advanced Eyewear for Eye Monitoring
Principal Investigator:
Kiyoshi Kiyokawa
Co-Investigators:
Hideaki Uchiyama
Kiyotaka Sasagawa (Medilux Research Center / Division of Materials Science, NAIST)
Jun Ota (Institute for Research Strategy, NAIST)
Takeshi Morimoto (Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University)
Masakazu Hirota (Faculty of Medical Technology, Teikyo University)
Research Period (FY):
April 1, 2026 – March 31, 2031
Research Summary:
Modern ophthalmology primarily focuses on symptomatic treatment after a disease has developed, making true early detection and personalized preventive intervention extremely difficult. To address this urgent challenge, this research proposes a new preventive medicine paradigm called “Proactive Vision Care” and establishes the innovative technological foundations required for its realization. Specifically, we will significantly advance the Principal Investigator’s ongoing research on continuous eye and visual function measurement and visual support in daily life to develop three core items: 1) novel sensing and intervention devices that capture everything from the ocular surface (dry eye) to axial length (myopia), 2) AI models for disease risk prediction using long-term multidimensional data obtained from daily life, and 3) personalized intervention and visual support methods that encourage behavioral change based on these predictions. By creating a closed-loop system where “daily sensing → risk prediction → proactive intervention” function as a unified trinity, we will actively “manage” the fluctuations and risks of an individual’s eye health. Focusing on dry eye, progressive myopia, and glaucoma, we will verify the effectiveness through clinical studies as a fourth research item. This is a pioneering challenge that not only contributes significantly to preventing the aggravation of major eye diseases and improving QOL but also opens the door to breakthrough preventive medicine that contributes to holistic health maintenance and promotion.
