Next generation home vision assessment [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Next generation home vision assessment
IRAS ID
286078
Contact name
Iain Livingstone
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Forth Valley
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 23 days
Research summary
The assessment of vision is currently conducted in a face to face environment with a healthcare professional. Assessment of visual acuity, colour vision, depth perception and field of vision are all assessed using tests that require a patient to be in physical attendance with a clinician. Current clinical standard tests rely on printed letter tests, printed colour charts, or large machines. Due to the complexity of the tests, reliable results can only be obtained by medical professionals. The reliability of the results depends not only on the ability of the medical professional, but also the ability of the patient to comply with testing.
Current restrictions due to Covid-19 have prevented many patients from attending clinics for face to face appointments. Remote consultations, either via telephone, or video conferencing platforms, do not currently allow the ability to test visual function.
We have developed a vision function testing platform that can be screenshared through hospital approved video consultation platforms. This will enable clinicians to test visual function of their patient remotely. Importantly, it will enable the clinician to determine the compliance of the patient with the test, the performance of the patient during the test and therefore the accuracy of the result.
To assess whether home vision assessment is likely to be beneficial, it requires to be validated against standard, face to face hospital vision assessments. This trial therefore proposes to assess a convenience sample of subjects, who for medical reasons are required to attend hospital, despite Covid-19 restrictions. Two groups of study participants will be recruited: children aged up to 15years, and adults 16 years and over. Participants will be tested within one week of their attendance in a hospital face to face appointment, with testing taking approximately 30 minutes.
REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/WM/0285
Date of REC Opinion
26 Nov 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion