None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
If eye problems occur in early childhood, they can affect the development of the brain areas that are responsible for sight and cause lifelong visual impairment. In addition, vision problems can affect the development of fine control over arm and hand movements and, in older children, impact on education. Many of the eye problems that affect young children can be treated effectively, however detecting these problems is challenging. Young children find it difficult to complete standard tests of vision because these tests require high levels of attention. Many tests also involve recognising shapes and letters and are therefore not suitable for young children. To address this problem we are developing a new computer-based vision test suitable for use with children as young as 2-years old. The test is simple and easy to use; carefully designed moving patterns are shown to the child that causes a reflexive, involuntary movement of the eyes if the child is able to see the pattern (which thereby yields a measure of visual performance). At the same time we record the movement of the eyes with a video camera attached to a computer and the software we are developing will identify whether the child is able to see the pattern or not. Finally, the visibility of the pattern will be varied to measure how well the child can see. In this project, we will develop and perform clinical validation tests in ophthalmology and optometry clinics in New Zealand and the USA. The overall aim of this research is to validate a device that we envisage could be used to rapidly and accurately test visual acuity in young children to allow for the early detection and treatment of vision problems. We propose here to conduct data collection of OKN eye movement using our prototype system developed from our own research to date. This study will involve three clinical sites: (1) the University of Auckland Optometry research clinic, (2) a private ophthalmology clinic (Eye Doctors, Ascot Hospital) led by co-investigator and ophthalmologist Dr Shuan Dai and his research assistant (orthoptist, Nia Stonex), and (3) the Retina Foundation of the Southwest (a non-profit eye research institute in Texas, USA) led by co-investigator Prof. Eileen Birch and her research team.
Interventions
The intervention is a clinical device designed by Dr. Jason Turuwhenua, and consists of multiple components: a stimulus display unit, infrared (IR) camera for optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) video recording, IR illumination, and a computer. Data collection will be done with a prototype device by Objective Acuity Ltd, a UniServices (University of Auckland) start-up company co-founded by Lead investigator, Dr. Jason Turuwhenua, and A/Prof. Ben Thompson. The overall aim of this study is to accurately t
The intervention is a clinical device designed by Dr. Jason Turuwhenua, and consists of multiple components: a stimulus display unit, infrared (IR) camera for optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) video recording, IR illumination, and a computer. Data collection will be done with a prototype device by Objective Acuity Ltd, a UniServices (University of Auckland) start-up company co-founded by Lead investigator, Dr. Jason Turuwhenua, and A/Prof. Ben Thompson. The overall aim of this study is to accurately test visual acuity in young children to allow for the early detection and treatment of vision problems. The OKN device assesses visual acuity by inducing and measuring an involuntary, reflexive eye movement known as OKN. This eye movement only occurs when a moving target is visible. The intervention will be done one eye at a time, and the eye not being tested is covered by an eye patch. The intervention will be delivered by optometrist(s), orthoptist(s), ophthalmologist(s), and vision researcher(s) with minimum 2 years' clinical/clinical research experience. The mode of delivery is face to face, one participant at a time, in an optometry/ophthalmology clinic or a clinic in vision research institution.. Children will undergo the intervention once, but in the event of technical difficulties or child unable to cooperate, we will invite children and their parents to reschedule for a second attempt. The duration of intervention is approximately 10 minutes (5 minutes per eye).
Sponsors
University of Auckland
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Primary purpose
Diagnosis
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
36 Months to 83 Months
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Aged 3-6 years old (36-83 months at the time of registration) * Have parent(s)/guardian(s) willing to provide informed consent * Had paediatric eye examination, including cycloplegic refraction within the past 6 months OR is a child for whom the parent consents to having a paediatric eye examination including cycloplegic refraction at the time of registration.
Exclusion criteria
* Infantile nystagmus syndrome * Eye muscle surgery within the past 6 months * Current eye disease * Developmental delay (known or suspected) * Systemic disease or syndrome
Outcome results
None listed