Providing Access to the Visual Environment

July 29, 2026 updated by: Lori Ann Kehler, Vanderbilt University

Providing Access to the Visual Environment is a pediatric low vision grant which has the ability to provide comprehensive, interdisciplinary low vision rehabilitation services to every child in Tennessee with a vision impairment. Children, ages 3-21, with best-corrected vision of 20/50 or worse in the better seeing eye are prescribed optical devices to improve their visual functioning and trained to use the devices.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Vision Impairment

Detailed Description

Subjects are enrolled each school year based on referrals from school systems in Tennessee, ophthalmologists, and optometrists. A total of 90 new students are enrolled each year. Students are provided a comprehensive low vision rehabilitation evaluation by a low vision optometrist and prescribed optical devices to improve distance appreciation, near reading, and other tasks based on individual needs. Students are then trained to use the devices efficiently by master's level teachers of the visually impaired. The teachers travel to the students environment (school/home/work) for the training.

Variables such as ocular disease, age, visual acuity, visual improvement with optical devices, type of optical device, and reading speed are defined for each student. Providing Access to the Visual Environment also provides...

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

795

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Name: Lori Ann F Kehler, O.D.
Phone Number: 615-936-2020
Email: lori.ann.kehler@Vanderbilt.Edu

Study Contact Backup

Name: Saige Wilkins, CTS
Phone Number: 615-936-1474
Email: saige.wilkins@vumc.org

Study Locations

United States
- Tennessee
  - Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 37232
    - Recruiting
    - Saige Wilkins
    - Contact:
      
      Lori Ann Kehler, O.D.
      
      Phone Number: 615-936-2020
      
      Email: lori.ann.kehler@Vanderbilt.Edu
    - Principal Investigator:
      
      Lori Ann Kehler, O.D
    - Contact:
      
      Saige A Wilkins, CTS
      
      Phone Number: 16159361474
      
      Email: saige.wilkins@vumc.org

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

3 years to 21 years (Child, Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Children age 3 to 21 years of age, enrolled in a TN school, with visual impairment

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Children age 3 to 21 years of age Enrollment in a school in Tennessee (private or public)

- Children that are eligible for services due to visual impairment Low vision

Exclusion Criteria:

Children who do not have the potential to become readers or use their vision for reading

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Success to utilize optical devices Time Frame: 3-4 months	Training with external optical devices to improve visual outcome	3-4 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Vanderbilt University

Collaborators

Tennessee Department of Education

Investigators

Principal Investigator: Lori Ann Kehler, O.D., Vanderbilt Eye Institute

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

July 1, 2001

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 20, 2006

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria