DIVE100
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Decoding Intermittent Exotropia: Unveiling the Mechanisms – an observational study
IRAS ID
355909
Contact name
Vijay Tailor-Hamblin
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
TAIV01, Research Opportunities At Moorfields
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Strabismus, or a squint, involves eye misalignment (esotropia or exotropia) affecting up to 5% of the population, leading to reduced vision and 3D vision loss. Intermittent exotropia, impacting 1-2% of children, results in unpredictable and often disappointing treatment outcomes, as the current flawed classification system fails to account for the diverse array of symptoms like double vision and suppression (ignoring the second image). The one-size-fits-all treatment approach often yields poor results.
Our aim is to improve the classification system for intermittent exotropia based not only on when the deviation occurs and its size, but also the sensory changes that occur when it does. Moorfields Eye Hospital has a large database of children with intermittent exotropia with retrospective data which will form the recruitment pool. In the proposed prospective study, we will examine the existence of intermittent exotropia subtypes and develop a more precise classification system by examining 100 children between the ages of 5-16 years, using an extended orthoptic test battery but also psychophysical behavioural testing to develop a more precise classification system. We anticipate that the development of accurate categorisation will enable future research to identify which treatments are most helpful for different groups, ultimately enabling better outcomes through non-invasive vision training and better targeted surgical procedures.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/EM/0180
Date of REC Opinion
27 Aug 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion