Glare perception in normal and impaired vision.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The perception and effect of glare in normal vision and in developmental visual diseases
IRAS ID
356170
Contact name
Frank A Proudlock
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leicester
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Glare, or excessive brightness that causes visual discomfort, is a common problem for people with certain eye conditions such as infantile nystagmus(IN) (involuntary eye movements), albinism (a genetic condition leading to reduced eye pigmentation), and achromatopsia (difficulty with colour vision and light sensitivity). This study aims to determine whether glare can be measured objectively in IN using reliable clinical methods. Understanding and accurately quantifying glare is important because it can significantly impair daily activities like reading, thereby reducing quality of life.
The research will address several key questions: Can we reliably measure glare in people with visual disorders? How does glare affect every day visual tasks, such as reading, in these visual disorders? And do interventions such as tinted lenses or reading overlays improve visual performance under glare conditions?
This prospective, cross-sectional study will be conducted at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. It will involve two study visits, during which participants will undergo a series of non-invasive tests. These include standard eye examinations to assess visual acuity (clarity of vision), taking images of the individual’s eyes and ocular motility (eye movement control), as well as specific tests designed to measure glare sensitivity by exposing participants to varying light conditions. Participants will also complete simple reading tasks while under glare conditions.
The study is funded by Fight for Sight and The Ulverscroft Foundation and is sponsored by the University of Leicester. The outcomes of this research may lead to improved clinical assessments and better treatment strategies for individuals experiencing glare, ultimately enhancing their visual function and overall quality of life.
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/SW/0091
Date of REC Opinion
14 Aug 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion