Investigating glaucoma: patient symptoms, information and adherence
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating links between visual symptoms, patient information material and treatment adherence in glaucoma
IRAS ID
324132
Contact name
Lindsay Rountree
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bradford
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 7 months, 3 days
Research summary
The project aims to improve understanding of vision changes caused by glaucoma, in other words what are glaucomatous patients seeing and how does this link with the extent to which they follow their treatment plan. It will potentially lead to improved vision tests useful for detection and monitoring of the disease. In addition to this, it aims to create visual aids for the general public and glaucoma patients to better understand the symptoms of glaucoma.
Study participants will be people with glaucoma and age-similar healthy volunteers. Participants may be required to visit the School of Optometry & Vision Science on multiple occasions. Participants will be approached at recruitment sites such as hospitals to handout participant information sheets, and for any of their questions regarding the study to be answered. Participants will not be required to take part in every aspect of the research. Each visit will last a maximum of three hours. Participants will be made aware of the study prior to their involvement in the study and will be made aware all participation is voluntary.
Some studies will involve routine eye and vision checks that are performed during optometric examinations, as well as specially-designed computerised vision tests aiming to investigate specific aspects of vision. These tests will involve the participant viewing a computer screen from a fixed distance (maintained by placing their chin in a rest) and pressing buttons in response to patterns or images on the screen. Images will be of everyday scenes And may include AI images of random patterns and colours, that the participant will observe and will not be alarming or offensive. Participants will respond by button press to different aspects of the presented patterns/images. In other tasks they may make a comparison between two or more patterns/scenes, such as which is more blurred, or which has the highest contrast. In these cases, the participant will indicate their choice by pressing one of several buttons. Participants may alternatively directly adjust one image to match the appearance of another, for example in its contrast, by turning a dial or holding down a button until the images appear the same. The participants may also be required to give descriptions of the differences between the better and worse eye, and the images will be digitally manipulated until the participant indicates that the modified image seen with the better eye appears the same as the original image seen with the worst eye.
All procedures will be non-invasive, apart from the possible installation of eye drops to dilate the pupil and/or numb the front surface of the eye for eye pressure measurement. This is routinely carried out in optometric practice and will only be carried out by suitably qualified optometrists. Taking part in any of the studies will not affect participants’ clinical care or disease in any way.
Data will be analysed to investigate differences in vision attributable to glaucoma, and how these differences relate to changes in treatment. We will also ask participants for permission to re-use the collected data in anonymised form in future studies. This may include wider dissemination of the data, e.g., through an open-access platform. Any such dissemination of data will be strictly anonymised with no identifying information included.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/NE/0148
Date of REC Opinion
1 Aug 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion