Crowding colour & motion in amblyopia
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Crowding effects in strabismic amblyopia for judgements of colour and motion
IRAS ID
244254
Contact name
John Greenwood
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2018/04/111, Data Protection Number
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 31 days
Research summary
Amblyopia (’lazy eye’) is a childhood impairment of vision that affects 3-4% of the population. It is detected in eye clinics when there is poor visual acuity (our ability to see fine detail) in one eye, even when optical correction is worn. \n\nVision in amblyopia is further affected by ’crowding’ - objects (like letters) become difficult to see in clutter, despite being clear in isolation. Although we do not know why this crowding occurs, we know that crowding also affects peripheral vision in unaffected adults and the central vision of people with amblyopia. \n\nThe goal of this project is to gain a better understanding of amblyopic crowding by examining whether these effects are equally strong for different kinds of visual judgement. We will compare judgements of motion (’which way is it moving?’) with judgements of hue (’what colour is it?’). Our prediction is that crowding will affect motion judgements to a greater extent than colour judgements. \n\nTo examine this, we will test 20 children with strabismic amblyopic, aged between 3-9. The experimental tests will be carried out in the Children’s Eye Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital, and involve children playing a specially designed videogame for approximately 40 minutes. \n\nThis project (funded by the Moorfields Eye Charity and the Medical Research Council) will have several important outcomes. First, we will gain an insight to the mechanisms underlying visual deficits in amblyopia. Second, we will determine whether some kinds of tests (e.g. with moving stimuli) might be better able to detect amblyopia than others (e.g. with judgements of colour). An increased understanding of the mechanisms underlying amblyopic crowding will allow a more principled approach to the treatment of this deficit, and potentially new tests to better screen for and monitor the progression of amblyopia.
REC name
London - South East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/0879
Date of REC Opinion
24 May 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion