Investigating eye shape and its effect on focussing in Down's syndrome
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating ocular morphological differences as the possible cause of accommodation deficits in Down’s syndrome
IRAS ID
252457
Contact name
Valldeflors (Flors) Vinuela-Navarro
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Aston University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
This project aims to further our understanding of the origin of poor focusing on close work in Down’s syndrome (DS), by studying the shape and size of different eye structures involved in near focusing in this population.
Research has shown that a large proportion of individuals with DS struggle to focus at close distances, even with their glasses, and that bifocal glasses are successful at improving this focusing ability. However, the origin and mechanisms behind this poor close focusing are still unknown. This project proposes to investigate the characteristics of the eye structures involved in the process of focusing at close distances in individuals with and without Down's syndrome to further understand this deficit and its mechanisms.
Using the latest non-invasive technology, we will take pictures of different eye structures involved in the focusing process in individuals with DS with good and poor close focusing abilities, and controls (typical developing individuals). The images will be compared between the study groups to determine differences in the eye structures studied between the groups.
A better knowledge of the characteristics of the different eye structures involved in the close focusing process in DS will inform the origin of the focusing deficit in DS, how bifocal glasses improve close focusing in this population, and whether these are a permanent or a temporary treatment for this deficit. Our results will potentially lead to improved guidelines for the management and treatment of focusing deficits in DS.REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/SC/0266
Date of REC Opinion
12 Jul 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion