Piloting Continuous Psychophysics in Clinical Populations
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Optimization and Application of Continuous Psychophysics for Rapid Assessment of Clinical Populations – A Pilot Study
IRAS ID
345464
Contact name
Guido Maiello
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 0 days
Research summary
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a condition that affects the center of the retina, called the macula, which is responsible for our central vision. AMD causes a person's central vision to become blurred or distorted, making it difficult to see objects clearly. Over time, it can severely affect a person's ability to read, drive, and recognize objects and faces. It is a leading cause of vision loss in older adults.
Currently, AMD is diagnosed through a combination of eye exams and imaging tests, which can take a long time. This delay can impact how quickly treatment can begin. Therefore, a quicker way of testing for AMD could greatly benefit patients. Additionally, these procedures are complex and demand substantial resources—a significant issue in the overstretched NHS.
We are developing a quick and simple computer test to assess vision and movement problems in people affected by AMD. Our test uses a method called “continuous psychophysics”, where participants track a target moving on a screen. We will use different devices like a computer mouse, an eye tracker, and a hand motion tracker to adapt the test to the abilities of different patients. Our goal is to help doctors quickly and accurately diagnose problems associated with AMD, allowing for more effective treatments.
Our project will benefit people with or at risk of sight loss from AMD. By developing a faster and more efficient diagnostic tool, we can reduce the burden on the NHS and help patients get treatment sooner, which could slow the progression of the disease and protect their vision. This would improve the quality of life for people with AMD, allowing them to continue doing the things they love, like reading, driving, and interacting with others. Also, while the immediate focus of this project is people with AMD, our method holds promise for people with other conditions as well.REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
24/NS/0098
Date of REC Opinion
2 Aug 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion