Digital Retinal imagE grAding for AMD Study (DREAMS v1.2)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Digital Retinal imagE grAding for Macular degeneration Study (DREAMS). A pilot study to define prevalence of age related macular degeneration based on diabetic Retinopthay screening.
IRAS ID
137577
Contact name
Faruque Ghanchi
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Bradford teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in UK and a large proportion of the health budget is spent on the management of the wet form of AMD. Establishing the prevalence of AMD is essential for effective planning of future health care, including the use of health care resources.
Diabetes is a known risk factor for neovascular AMD and hence systematic study of a diabetic population would provide a useful index for AMD in an ‘at risk’ population. In addition, the ethnicity of the Bradford and Airedale population will also be recorded and included in statistical analysis.
We propose to assess the feasibility of using the Bradford and Airedale PCT diabetic retinopathy screening images, to determine the prevalence of age-related macular degeneration in this at risk population. 500 Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Program images will be graded for AMD in accordance to the International AMD Classification. Two experienced graders will grade the images and the results will be compared using chi-squared statistics. The repeatability of the grading will be determined in order to test the accuracy of the outcome prevalence. If grading in this manner is found to be repeatable and accurate, the methods for this study will form a basis for a further, more detailed study involving all suitable images taken over a 12 month period. A better understanding of the prevalence of AMD with respect to ethnicity and diabetic eye disease, will enable us to best prioritise future monies for the screening and management of this condition.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NE/1225
Date of REC Opinion
26 Nov 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion