Glasses in Classes
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A cluster randomised trial to evaluate the effect of a school-based intervention to improve academic achievement, visual acuity, and adherence to glasses wear, in young children in a disadvantaged multi-ethnic community.
IRAS ID
253681
Contact name
Alison Bruce
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
years, 18 months, 31 days
Research summary
The sole national recommended vision assessment in the UK is vision screening at age 4-5 years (reception class) in order to detect treatable vision disorders. 15% of children fail vision screening and are referred for a detailed eye examination (refraction); the majority will be prescribed glasses. Adherence to glasses wear is known to be difficult, a high percentage (30%) of children fail to attend follow-up eye appointments and children from socially disadvantaged families are less likely to adhere to the prescribed treatment (both getting and wearing glasses). Children who fail to attend and those who fail to adhere to glasses wear are unlikely to improve their level of vision impacting on their developing literacy. Parents have reported better adherence when schools provide support. \n\nThe purpose of this study, funded by the Education Endowment Foundation, is to improve attendance for eye appointments and adherence to glasses wear and we will measure the impact of this on the children’s vision, reading and mathematics achievement. Currently vision screening results are only given to the parents and not the school. In this study we will share the vision screening results with both parents and schools and additionally we will provide an extra pair of glasses to be kept in school. \n\nThis school based intervention will be tested in Bradford Metropolitan Area; schools will be randomised into two groups, the intervention schools and the treatment as usual schools. Approximately 50 schools (350 children) will receive the intervention and 50 control schools (350 children) will receive usual care.\n\nThe children’s attendance for eye appointments and their adherence to glasses wear will be measured (comparing differences between the school groups). Vision and literacy levels collected before and after the introduction of the intervention will be measured and differences examined in the children’s first school year (2019-2020). \n\n\n
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/YH/0124
Date of REC Opinion
24 Apr 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion