Strabismus Project, Version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The role of oculoproprioception in the neural control of ocular alignment: Understanding disease mechanisms in strabismus
IRAS ID
337390
Contact name
Daniela Balslev
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of St Andrews
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Strabismus (squint or crossed eyes) is one of the most common and debilitating eye disorders in childhood. Individuals with this condition cannot align the two eyes to look at the same visual object. The current treatment is visual correction followed by surgery of the muscles that move the eyes in the eye sockets. This treatment does not work in everyone. In many children the eye misalignment persists and a majority of those treated do not regain normal vision. Visual problems may prevent the children from performing well academically, competing successfully in sports, and pursuing some occupations. The appearance of “crossed” eyes leads to low self-esteem and social difficulties.
The reason the treatment does not work could be that it does not address the root cause of the disease. It is not known what causes strabismus. To precisely control where we look, the brain has access to information about the rotation of each eye in the eye sockets. One source of such information is called ‘oculoproprioception’. It is provided by stretch receptors in the muscles that rotate the eye. We are proposing to test for the first time the hypothesis that the misalignment of the eyes in strabismus might be caused by inaccurate oculoproprioception.
Because corrective strabismus surgery itself affects oculoproprioception, one would need to examine individuals before surgical intervention, in early childhood.
We seek approval for a study in which we adapt behavioural tasks previously used in adults to assess whether the passive movement of one eye has a smaller impact on the movement of the other eye in 4- to 5-year-old children with strabismus relative to healthy controls.
The study forms a first step in understanding the cause of strabismus to provide the basis for earlier assessment and a more effective intervention.
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/SW/0001
Date of REC Opinion
28 Feb 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion