Reading speed after using ocular lubricants in dry eye disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A pilot study to investigate a reading test as a measure of the efficacy of ocular lubricant treatment in individuals with dry eye disease
IRAS ID
219336
Contact name
CM Dickinson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 3 days
Research summary
The front surface of the eye is covered by a thin layer of tears to lubricate it, to help avoid infection, and to create a precise optical surface to help with the formation of clear images on the back of the eye. “Dry eye disease” (DED) refers to a wide range of conditions where the tear film is disrupted: some only creating mild discomfort, but others lead to severe damage to the eye. All are treated by various ocular lubricants (eye drops, sprays or ointments) to attempt to replace the function of the tears. The usual clinical measurements of vision using a high contrast letter chart do not show any significant difference compared to normal, but it has been suggested that vision tests which require good vision across a prolonged period are more likely to be affected in DED. Reading speed for relatively long paragraphs of text (about 150-200 words) has been shown to be affected, and this study will attempt to identify whether a reading test can be used to monitor the effect of an ocular lubricant treatment. The study will also identify whether a low contrast reading test would be more sensitive (since vision for “difficult to see” words would be more affected by the imperfections in the tears), and whether reading speed can be used to identify effects of treatment even in mild eye disease, and in younger subjects.
REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/WM/0045
Date of REC Opinion
8 Feb 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion