Pilot: Can and will cataract patients perform sight checks by post?

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Pilot: Feasibility assessment of home contrast sensitivity test and its correlation to clinical findings of patients with cataracts

• IRAS ID

  300328

• Contact name

  Eleonora Bianchi

• Contact email

  e.bianchi@nhs.net

• Sponsor organisation

  Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 11 months, 18 days

• Research summary

  The current coronavirus pandemic has caused a vast increase in waiting times for patients requiring routine cataract surgery. In addition, COVID-19 has brought greater challenges in assessing patients' suitability for cataract surgery and
  prioritising which patients are most in need from the large cohort awaiting this procedure.

  This pilot study aims to explore the feasibility of posting patients a simple contrast sensitivity "screening" test to carry out at home. The primary outcome measure will be uptake rates (what % of patients return the test). Secondary
  outcomes will be accuracy (1. agreement with clinicians' subsequent findings when the patient attends clinic, regarding their need for cataract extraction; 2. statistical agreement with a 'reference standard' Pelli-Robson test, performed when the patient attends clinic) and repeatability (test-retest agreement when the patient performs the test for a second time under supervision, when attending clinic).

  Recruitment will be carried out upon receiving written NHS routine referrals for patients with cataracts. Potential
  participants will receive by post a letter explaining the research project and its aims, and inviting participants to confirm involvement in the research project by filling in a consent form and returning this with their filled-out contrast sensitivity sight test via freepost envelope back to the Ophthalmology department. Once participants are invited to their standard eye clinic appointment for a face-to-face consultation at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, those who have agreed to take part in the study will have their contrast sensitivity repeated, in addition to the standard NHS work-up for assessment of suitability to cataract listing. It will be made clear that involvement in the study will have no impact on their clinical management.

• REC name

  West of Scotland REC 5

• REC reference

  21/WS/0073

• Date of REC Opinion

  29 Jun 2021

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion