Pilot: Feasibility of home vision monitoring in children
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Pilot study: Exploring the feasibility of home vision monitoring in children
IRAS ID
305561
Contact name
Michael Crossland
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UCL
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Home-monitoring promises better eye-care at lower cost. It could deliver more rapid and reliable detection of disease progression (patient benefit), more personalised and targeted interventions (clinical benefit), reduced travel distance (environmental benefit) and substantive cost-savings, via a reduction in clinic appointments (societal benefit). Regular home-monitoring is particularly desirable for children, as hospital visits can disrupt schooling, and since any acute deterioration of vision that occurs between appointments --- if unnoticed by parents --- can result in lifelong impairment.
At present, however, we lack good evidence as to whether home-monitoring of vision is acceptable or practicable for young children or their families. In the present study, we will ask children with visual impairment to regularly perform simple measures of vision at home (contrast sensitivity, visual fields). We will quantify adherence rates, and will conduct interviews to record the perceptions of children and their families regarding the feasibility and utility of paediatric vision home-monitoring. As a secondary outcome, we will also examine the accuracy and reliability (test-retest repeatability) of test data (if any).
This study is a continuation of previous similar work in adults with vision impairment and will use similar methods and equipment:
Jones, L. et al(2021). Acceptability of a home-based visual field test (Eyecatcher) for glaucoma home monitoring: A qualitative study of patients' views and experiences, BMC Open, 11:e043130. doi:[10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043130]
Jones, P. R.et al(2020). Glaucoma home-monitoring using a tablet-based visual field test (Eyecatcher): An assessment of accuracy and adherence over six months, American Journal of Ophthalmology, 223;42-52. doi:[10.1016/j.ajo.2020.08.039]
Crossland, M. D. et al(2021). Evaluation of a Home-Printable Vision Screening Test for Telemedicine. JAMA OPHTHALMOLOGY. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2020.5972
REC name
London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/PR/0386
Date of REC Opinion
25 Apr 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion