About

G. Lynn Mitchell is an Associate Professor at the College of Optometry at Ohio State University. His research focuses on various aspects of vision science, including accommodative function, binocular vision, and contact lens-related risks. Mitchell has contributed to understanding how accommodative function affects symptoms and therapy responses in children with convergence insufficiency, as well as evaluating visual-verbal processing in adolescents with concussion. His work also involves developing tools such as contact lens risk surveys and assessing visual performance with different contact lens types in pediatric populations. Mitchell has authored numerous publications in reputable journals, advancing knowledge in optometric diagnostics, treatment efficacy, and epidemiology of ocular conditions.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Ophthalmology
• Artificial Intelligence
• Internal medicine
• Optometry
• Computer Science
• Optics
• Nursing
• Family medicine
• Physics

Selected publications

• Comparison of ocular accommodation throughout the day in children using 0.05% low‐dose atropine versus controls: A pilot study

  Optometry and Vision Science · 2026-02-01 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  PURPOSE: The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the effect of 0.05% low-dose atropine on ocular accommodation (amplitude and accuracy) and how its effect changed throughout the day. METHODS: Sixteen children aged 6-16 years using 0.05% atropine and 16 controls not using atropine were enrolled. Monocular accommodative amplitude was measured objectively using a Grand Seiko WAM-5500 open field autorefractor (formerly manufactured by RyuSyo Industrial Co.) and subjectively using the push-up method. Accuracy of accommodation was measured using monocular estimation (MEM) retinoscopy. All measures were taken at three study visits over a single day to assess change over time. Measures of accommodative amplitude and accuracy were compared using a 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Nonparametric analyses were performed to compare MEM retinoscopy using the Mann-Whitney U-test and Friedman's test. RESULTS: Objectively measured accommodative amplitude was significantly lower in the 0.05% atropine group (morning: 5.99 ± 2.28D, midday: 6.17 ± 2.06D, afternoon: 7.08 ± 1.82D) compared to the control group (morning: 7.68 ± 1.59D, midday: 7.62 ± 1.93D, afternoon: 7.63 ± 1.48D) at the morning and midday visits (p = 0.01, 0.03). There was no difference between groups at the afternoon visit (p = 0.40). In the 0.05% atropine group, objectively measured amplitudes were greater at the afternoon visit compared to those of the morning and midday visits (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences throughout the day in the push-up amplitude of accommodation or MEM retinoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: When measured objectively, accommodative amplitude in children using 0.05% low-dose atropine was reduced compared to controls during the morning and midday visits and increased over the day reaching a level comparable to that of the control group by the afternoon visit. Common clinical measures of accommodative ability, including subjective amplitude of accommodation using the push-up test and accommodative accuracy using MEM retinoscopy, did not demonstrate these same differences.

  PublisherDOI

• Axial Growth and Myopia Progression After Discontinuing Soft Multifocal Contact Lens Wear

  JAMA Ophthalmology · 2025-01-16 · 5 citations

  letterOpen access

  Importance: For myopia control to be beneficial, it would be important that the benefit of treatment (slowed eye growth) is not lost because of faster than normal growth (rebound) after discontinuing treatment. Objective: To determine whether there is a loss of treatment effect (rebound) after discontinuing soft multifocal contact lenses in children with myopia. Design, Setting, and Participants: The Bifocal Lenses in Nearsighted Kids 2 (BLINK2) cohort study involved children with myopia (aged 11-17 years at BLINK2 baseline) who completed the BLINK Study randomized clinical trial. Enrollment was from September 2019 through January 2021; follow-up was completed in January 2024. In the BLINK2 Study, all children wore high-add (+2.50 diopter [D]) multifocal soft contact lenses for 2 years and single-vision soft contact lenses during the third year to determine if rebound occurred. Exposure: High-add multifocal soft contact lenses and single-vision soft contact lenses. Main Outcomes and Measures: Eye length (optical biometry) and refractive error (cycloplegic autorefraction) were measured annually. Results: Of 248 participants enrolled in BLINK2, 235 completed the study. The median age at the baseline visit was 15 years (range, 11-17 years); 146 participants (59%) were female, and 102 (41%) were male. At baseline for BLINK2, mean (SD) axial length and spherical equivalent refractive error were 25.2 (0.9) mm and -3.40 (1.40) D, respectively. After participants switched from multifocal to single-vision contact lenses, axial elongation increased by 0.03 mm per year (95% CI, 0.01 to 0.05) regardless of their original BLINK treatment assignment (P = .81). There was also an increase in myopia progression after switching to single-vision lenses of -0.17 D per year (95% CI, -0.22 to -0.12) that did not depend on the original BLINK treatment assignment (P = .57). There continued to be a difference in axial length and refractive error throughout BLINK2 based on the BLINK Study treatment assignment with the original high-add group having shorter eyes and less myopia than the original medium-add (+1.50 D) and single-vision groups. Conclusions and Relevance: The BLINK2 Study found no evidence of a loss of treatment effect after discontinuing multifocal contact lenses in older teenagers. These data suggest eye growth and myopia progression returned to faster but age-expected rates and support continuing multifocal lenses until cessation of elongation and progression.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Optimal stimulus demands for objective measurement of monocular accommodative amplitude

  Optometry and Vision Science · 2025-09-29

  article

  SIGNIFICANCE: Accommodative amplitude is commonly measured in the clinical setting using subjective measures that overestimate true accommodative ability. This study identifies optimal near demands for objective measurement of amplitude in children and young adults with the goal of developing ways to accurately and efficiently measure amplitude in a clinical setting. PURPOSE: This study aims to determine the optimal physical stimulus demands to objectively measure the accommodative ability of the eye that will elicit maximum accommodative amplitude for the majority of children and young adults. METHODS: 100 participants aged 5 to 24 years underwent monocular measures of accommodation with an open-field autorefractor at 13 stimulus positions (40cm to 3.3cm = 2.5 to 30D) while viewing a 0.9mm "E." The greatest accommodative response was identified as the accommodative amplitude. Quadratic plateau models of accommodative response by demand for four age bins (5 to 9, 10 to 14, 15 to 19, and 20 to 24 years) identified demands or combinations of demands most likely to elicit maximum amplitude. Comparison of accommodative response found by different combinations of demands was made to accommodative amplitude identified by the 13 stimulus position protocol. The locations identified were then applied to two previously published cohorts (n = 143) tested with the same methodology to validate the use of fewer stimulus demands. RESULTS: Stimulus positions 10.5 and 12D combined identified the highest percentage of participants within 1D of true accommodative amplitude; 80% for 5 to 9, 96% for 10 to 14, 96% for 15 to 19, and 92% for 20 to 24. The 5 to 9 year bin had the largest number of participants who were not identified (5), followed by the 20 to 24 bin (2), and the 10 to 14 and 15 to 19 bins (1 each). The average difference from true amplitude for participants not correctly identified was -1.52D (SD = 0.3), -1.24D (SD = 0.1), -1.84D, and -1.23D, respectively. Comparison with two previous cohorts showed good success in the identification of true amplitude within 1D for each age bin using the 10.5 and 12D stimulus positions: 84% for 5 to 9, 88% for 10 to 14, 86% for 15 to 20, and 84% for 21 to 24. CONCLUSIONS: Utilizing accommodative response measures at 10.5 and 12D stimulus demands combined identifies true accommodative amplitude in the majority of individuals from 5 to 24 years old.

  PublisherDOI

• Impact of drafting on race outcome in the Paris Olympics men’s athletics 1500m final: A retrospective analysis using the Critical Speed model

  Journal of science and medicine in sport · 2025-10-01

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Predictors of Job Retention After Onset of Visual Impairment in Late Middle Age

  Journal of Aging and Health · 2024-04-05

  articleSenior author

  Objectives: We investigated factors associated with job retention after developing a visual impairment in late middle adulthood. Methods: Using longitudinal survey data from the Health and Retirement Study, we identified respondents who first reported poor eyesight or legal blindness at age 44–64 years in Waves 3–14 and who were employed in the previous wave. We conducted a multiple logistic regression analysis with job retention as the dependent variable and health and socioeconomic characteristics as independent variables. Results: Women, people who were married or partnered, and people with fair or better self-reported health were more likely to retain employment after vision loss, whereas people with more chronic health conditions were less likely to retain employment. Discussion: Poor health and chronic health conditions may prompt late middle-aged adults to leave the labor force after developing vision loss. Timely vocational rehabilitation services can help employed people with vision loss retain employment.

  PublisherDOI

• Detection of significant vision conditions in children using <scp>QuickSee</scp> wavefront autorefractor

  Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics · 2024 · 6 citations

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Medicine
  • Ophthalmology

  PURPOSE: This study evaluated the ability of QuickSee to detect children at risk for significant vision conditions (significant refractive error [RE], amblyopia and strabismus). METHODS: Non-cycloplegic refraction (using QuickSee without and with +2 dioptre (D) fogging lenses) and unaided binocular near visual acuity (VA) were measured in 4- to 12-year-old children. Eye examination findings (VA, cover testing and cycloplegic retinoscopy) were used to determine the presence of vision conditions. QuickSee performance was summarised by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity for various levels of RE. QuickSee referral criteria for each vision condition were chosen to maximise sensitivity at a specificity of approximately 85%-90%. Sensitivity and specificity to detect vision conditions were calculated using multiple criteria. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the benefit of adding near VA (6/12 or worse) for detecting hyperopia. A paired t-test compared QuickSee without and with fogging lenses. RESULTS: The mean age was 8.2 (±2.5) years (n = 174). RE ranged up to 9.25 D myopia, 8 D hyperopia, 5.25 D astigmatism and 3.5 D anisometropia. The testability of the QuickSee was 94.3%. AUC was ≥0.92 (excellent) for each level of RE. For the detection of any RE, sensitivity and specificity were 84.2% and 87.3%, respectively, using modified Orinda criteria and 94.5% and 78.2%, respectively, using the American Academy for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) guidelines. For the detection of any significant vision condition, the sensitivity and specificity of QuickSee were 81.1% and 87.9%, respectively, using modified Orinda criteria and 93% and 78.6%, respectively, using AAPOS criteria. There was no significant benefit of adding near VA to QuickSee for the detection of hyperopia ≥+2.00 (p = 0.34). There was no significant difference between QuickSee measurements of hyperopic refractive error with and without fogging lenses (difference = -0.09 D; p = 0.51). CONCLUSIONS: QuickSee had high discriminatory power for detecting children with hyperopia, myopia, astigmatism, anisometropia, any significant refractive error or any significant vision condition.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Classification of accommodative insufficiency by monocular subjective push‐up test is poorly predictive of monocular objective amplitudes in children and young adults

  Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics · 2024-11-18 · 3 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  INTRODUCTION: To determine whether classification of accommodative insufficiency (AI) based on the subjective push-up test is indicative of reduced amplitude measured objectively. METHODS: Monocular subjective accommodative amplitude was measured in participants 7-24 years of age with the push-up test; a 0.9 mm letter was moved towards the eye until first sustained blur occurred. Monocular objective amplitude was measured with the same target and an autorefractor for demands from 2.5 to 30 D. The maximum response was termed the amplitude. Near point of convergence (NPC) was measured in a subset of participants. Participants were classified into groups using subjective amplitude: normal amplitude or AI (amplitude < ((15 - 0.25 × age) - 2)). Objective amplitude was plotted by age for each group and one-way ANCOVA used to evaluate differences while controlling for age. For NPC measures, a t-test compared the magnitude of the break between those with and without AI. RESULTS: Fifty-five of 185 participants were classified as having AI. Objective amplitude decreased with age (0.20 D/year) and there was no significant difference in the age-adjusted mean amplitudes for the two groups (AI: 7.62 D, CI = 7.19, 8.04; Normal: 7.86 D, CI = 7.58, 8.15; p = 0.11). For the subset with NPC measures, participants classified as having AI had significantly more receded break values than those without AI (7.7 ± 5 vs. 3.7 ± 3 cm, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Factors other than accommodative ability may be contributing to lower subjective amplitude findings in individuals meeting the criterion for AI.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• One‐year follow‐up of clinical convergence measures in children enrolled in the Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial—Attention and Reading Trial

  Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics · 2024-08-14

  articleOpen access

  PURPOSE: To assess the long-term stability of clinical measures of convergence (near point of convergence [NPC] and positive fusional vergence [PFV]) in participants enrolled in the Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial-Attention and Reading Trial (CITT-ART) who received 16 weeks of office-based vergence/accommodative therapy. METHODS: A total of 310 children, 9-14 years old, with symptomatic convergence insufficiency were enrolled in CITT-ART. Some 270 completed both their 16-week primary outcome visit followed by a 1-year follow-up visit. Of those 270, 181 (67%) were randomised to the vergence/accommodative therapy. Of the 181 in the vergence/accommodative group, 121 (67%) reported not receiving any additional treatment after the 16-week primary outcome visit. The mean change in NPC, PFV and percentages of children classified by the predetermined success criteria of convergence (normal NPC [<6 cm] and/or improved by ≥4 cm; normal PFV [passing Sheard's criterion and base-out break >15Δ] and/or improved by ≥10Δ) were compared at the 16-week primary outcome visit and 1 year later. RESULTS: Of the 121 who returned for their 1-year follow-up visit, there was no significant change in mean adjusted NPC (reduction of -0.2 cm; 95% CI: -1.0 to 0.5 cm) at 1 year. There was a statistically significant decrease in mean-adjusted PFV (-4.7∆; 95% CI: -6.5 to -2.8Δ) at 1 year. There were similar percentages of participants classified as 'normal' (p = 0.30), 'normal and/or improved' (p > 0.50) and 'normal and improved' (p > 0.14) based on NPC and PFV at the 1-year visit compared with the 16-week primary outcome visit. CONCLUSION: The improvements in NPC and PFV following 16 weeks of vergence/accommodative therapy (with no reported additional treatment thereafter) in children with symptomatic convergence insufficiency persisted 1-year post-treatment.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Impact of accommodative insufficiency and accommodative/vergence therapy on ciliary muscle thickness in the eye

  Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics · 2023-05-15 · 6 citations

  articleOpen access

  PURPOSE: Recent evidence suggests that the ciliary muscle apical fibres are most responsive to accommodative load; however, the structure of the ciliary muscle in individuals with accommodative insufficiency is unknown. This study examined ciliary muscle structure in individuals with accommodative insufficiency (AI). We also determined the response of the ciliary muscle to accommodative/vergence therapy and increasing accommodative demands to investigate the muscle's responsiveness to workload. METHODS: Subjects with AI were enrolled and matched by age and refractive error with subjects enrolled in another ciliary muscle study as controls. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography was used to measure the ciliary muscle thickness (CMT) at rest (0D), maximum thickness (CMTMAX) and over the area from 0.75 mm (CMT0.75) to 3 mm (CMT3) posterior to the scleral spur of the right eye. For those with AI, the ciliary muscle was also measured at increasing levels of accommodative demand (2D, 4D and 6D), both before and after accommodative/vergence therapy. RESULTS: Sixteen subjects with AI (mean age = 17.4 years, SD = 8.0) were matched with 48 controls (mean age = 17.8 years, SD = 8.2). On average, the controls had 52-72 μm thicker ciliary muscles in the apical region at 0D than those with AI (p = 0.03 for both CMTMAX and CMT 0.75). Differences in thickness between the groups in other regions of the muscle were not statistically significant. After 8 weeks of accommodative/vergence therapy, the CMT increased by an average of 22-42 μm (p ≤ 0.04 for all), while AA increased by 7D (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated significantly thinner apical ciliary muscle thickness in those with AI and that the ciliary muscle can thicken in response to increased workload. This may explain the mechanism for improvement in signs and symptoms with accommodative/vergence therapy.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Prescribing patterns for paediatric hyperopia among paediatric eye care providers

  Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics · 2023 · 11 citations

  • Medicine
  • Optometry
  • Family medicine

  PURPOSE: To survey paediatric eye care providers to identify current patterns of prescribing for hyperopia. METHODS: Paediatric eye care providers were invited, via email, to participate in a survey to evaluate current age-based refractive error prescribing practices. Questions were designed to determine which factors may influence the survey participant's prescribing pattern (e.g., patient's age, magnitude of hyperopia, patient's symptoms, heterophoria and stereopsis) and if the providers were to prescribe, how much hyperopic correction would they prescribe (e.g., full or partial prescription). The response distributions by profession (optometry and ophthalmology) were compared using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov cumulative distribution function test. RESULTS: Responses were submitted by 738 participants regarding how they prescribe for their hyperopic patients. Most providers within each profession considered similar clinical factors when prescribing. The percentages of optometrists and ophthalmologists who reported considering the factor often differed significantly. Factors considered similarly by both optometrists and ophthalmologists were the presence of symptoms (98.0%, p = 0.14), presence of astigmatism and/or anisometropia (97.5%, p = 0.06) and the possibility of teasing (8.3%, p = 0.49). A wide range of prescribing was observed within each profession, with some providers reporting that they would prescribe for low levels of hyperopia while others reported that they would never prescribe. When prescribing for bilateral hyperopia in children with age-normal visual acuity and no manifest deviation or symptoms, the threshold for prescribing decreased with age for both professions, with ophthalmologists typically prescribing 1.5-2 D less than optometrists. The threshold for prescribing also decreased for both optometrists and ophthalmologists when children had associated clinical factors (e.g., esophoria or reduced near visual function). Optometrists and ophthalmologists most commonly prescribed based on cycloplegic refraction, although optometrists most commonly prescribed based on both the manifest and cycloplegic refraction for children ≥7 years. CONCLUSION: Prescribing patterns for paediatric hyperopia vary significantly among eye care providers.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• NIH Grant U10EY014659

  NIH · $1.4M · 2009

Frequent coauthors

• Marjean Taylor Kulp

  SUNY College of Optometry

  136 shared

• Karla Zadnik

  136 shared

• Mitchell Scheiman

  129 shared

• Susan A. Cotter

  Marshall B. Ketchum University

  117 shared

• Robin L. Chalmers

  113 shared

• Kathryn Richdale

  BioInVision (United States)

  108 shared

• Heidi Wagner

  105 shared

• Beth T. Kinoshita

  Pacific University Oregon

  99 shared

Labs

• Research | College of OptometryPI

Education

• Ph.D., Vision Science

  The Ohio State University

  1996

• M.S., Vision Science

  The Ohio State University

  1992

• B.S., Optometry

  The Ohio State University

  1988

Awards & honors

• Development of a contact Lens risk survey (2021)
• Visual Performance with Spherical and Multifocal Contact Len…
• Near-point Findings in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorde…
• The contact Lens risk survey to assess risk of soft contact…
• Effectiveness of vergence/accommodative therapy for accommod…