Proof of Concept Study for First-Sight Refractive Error Correction: Direct Comparison to Manifest Refraction and Autorefraction Results

Proof of Concept Study for First-Sight Refractive Error Correction:Direct Comparison to Manifest Refraction and Autorefraction Results

Proof of concept study is to compare the best corrected visual acuity obtained via First-Sight lenses with the clinical "gold standard" of manifest refraction and autorefraction.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Refractive Error

Detailed Description

Uncorrected refractive error is a frequent cause of visual impairment in the global population. In 2006, the World Health Organization released global estimates on visual impairment. According to their findings, there are approximately 314 million people in the world whose vision is impaired. Of this population 90% of those individuals live in developing countries and 153 million cases are believed to be due to uncorrected refractive error. The impact of uncorrected refractive error is great, including, but not limited to, loss of employment opportunities, inability to care for family, and inability to receive an education. The challenge is to determine the most effective and accessible method of detecting refractive error and dispensing spectacles for better vision.

In the clinical setting, refractive error is corrected by prescribing spectacles or contact lenses on a daily basis. Typically the patient will first undergo autorefraction, in which a computer-controlled machine is used to objectively calculate the refractive error present as a starting point for the subjective refraction test. This machine, however, is cumbersome and not easily transportable abroad. Typically the machine is held up to the patient's forehead and they are asked to look into the machine at a distant object. While they are looking at this object the machine calculates the refractive error. Next, the patient undergoes manifest refraction, a subjective refractive test that requires the use of trial lenses and patient responses to improve the results calculated by autorefraction, resulting in the best corrected visual acuity for that patient and a prescription for the patient to receive spectacles tailored to their need.

As a testimony to how prevalent uncorrected refractive error is in the developing world, refractive error in Nigerian adults and the prevalence of spectacle use was studied. In an article titled Refractive errors in Nigerian adults: prevalence, types and spectacle coverage, researchers looked at types of refractive errors and the ability of off the shelf spectacles to meet the corrective need in the 13,599 Nigerian adults. Patients underwent autorefraction and a detailed clinical exam and it was discovered that uncorrected refractive errors were responsible for 77.9% of visual impairment at the 20/40 to 20/60 level, and 57.1% at the 20/60 to 20/200 level. It also found that spectacles could improve the vision of 1,279 adults in the 20/40 range and 882 participants at the 20/60 level. However, only 3-4% of those individuals wore spectacles.

First-Sight is a simplified way to correct refractive error. It is easily portable, making it accessible to remote areas of the world. Unlike the study cited above, First-Sight can be brought to remote areas where clinics are not available and patients are not able to afford to pay for the clinic visit. As it is a simplified technique, local health care workers may easily be able to learn how to use First-Sight and dispense spectacles to those in need. Lastly, the sponsor of First-Sight will provide the refracting kits and custom-made spectacles at no cost to the health care workers and patients.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 41

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Nebraska
    • Omaha, Nebraska, United States, 68198
      • University of Nebraska Medical Center, Department of Ophthalmology

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 19 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Population with refractive error between -4.50 to +4.50 diopter spherical error and astigmatism up to -1.50 diopters

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects must be 19 years of age and older.
• A refractive error of -4.50 to +4.50 diopter spherical error and astigmatism up to -1.50 diopters on manifest refraction and autorefraction as documented in the patient's medical records.
• Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/20 with manifest refraction.
• No known ocular pathology from previous clinical exams that may limit best corrected visual acuity.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Refractive error greater than -4.50 or +4.50 diopter, or astigmatism greater than -1.50 diopters.
• Known ocular (corneal, lenticular, vitreal, or retinal) pathology that may limit BCVA.
• Best corrected visual acuity with spectacles of 20/25 or worse.
• Any previous surgical or laser procedures that may limit BCVA
• 18 years of age and younger

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Nebraska
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Michael Feilmeier, MD, UNMC Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: April 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 1, 2011
• Study Completion (Actual): August 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 25, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 25, 2011
• First Posted (Estimate): April 27, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): January 11, 2012
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 9, 2012
• Last Verified: January 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Eye Diseases; Refractive Errors
• Other Study ID Numbers: 131-11