OKKO Space Academy to check children's vision at home
Research type
Research Study
Full title
OKKO Space Academy App: families checking their child's vision at home during amblyopia treatment
IRAS ID
298095
Contact name
Annegret Dahlmann-Noor
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Moorfields Eye Hospital Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
COVID-19 has increased pressure on ophthalmology services. Paediatric amblyopia (or "lazy eye") is one condition that can benefit from a new home monitoring approach due to extensive in-clinic monitoring required in the care pathway.
Amblyopia is caused by a reduced amount of light entering the eye or lack of focus or confusion between the eyes. Suspected children are referred for orthoptic testing for diagnosis and are often given a patch to wear or drops for their better-seeing eye in order to force the affected eye to work harder. Treatment is monitored through 6-8 weekly clinic visits.
Increased frequency of visual function testing with home monitoring may increase effectiveness of treatments, reduce costs and benefit the patient.
This project aims to employ the OKKO Space Academy app as a home monitoring tool for 6 months in children aged 3-8 years with amblyopia. The smartphone app is available on iOS and Android platforms consisting of short games with applied vision science technology to measure visual function in a fun and engaging way. The concept is the child to become a space ranger in the OKKO Space Academy by completing heroic missions that centre around transporting fellow space inhabitants across the galaxy in their ship, with the help of Cosmo the Space Cat.
There are two aims of the study: 1) to determine the clinical validity of the app’s visual function measurements against the gold-standard clinic measurements and 2) to determine the feasibility of the app for patients (acceptability, usability and engagement) and clinicians (acceptability and improvement to NHS services).
REC name
London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/PR/0574
Date of REC Opinion
31 May 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion