Zimbabwe Eyecare And Learning(ZEAL):Formative Research on Hyperopia and Educational Outcomes in Primary School Children (ZEAL)
Hyperopia, Long Sight
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Hyperopia focused on measuring Refractive error, Spectacle correction, Eyeglasses, Learning, School children
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion criteria for the cross-sectional assessment of hyperopia prevalence and diagnostic tool development evaluation:
- Grades 2 or 4 from the list of selected primary schools by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE)
Inclusion criteria for the baseline and longitudinal assessment of reading performance
Primary school children will be eligible to participate in the 'reading assessment' if they fulfil the following criteria:
Hyperopic cohort:
- In Grade 2 or 4 from the list of selected schools by the MoPSE.
- Presence of moderate to high hyperopia, defined as ≥ +2.00D in the more hyperopic meridian, in the more hyperopic eye, using cycloplegic autorefraction with an average of three consecutive readings taken.
Emmetropic cohort:
- In Grade 2 or 4 from the list of selected schools by the MoPSE.
- Meets criteria for visually normal (unaided distance visual acuity 6/6 monocular and near visual acuity N5), based on an absence of significant refractive error.
- Presence of emmetropia, defined as < +1.00D to >-0.50 Dioptre in the more hyperopic meridian, in both eyes using cycloplegic autorefraction with an average of three consecutive readings taken to record the refractive status.
Newly diagnosed hyperopic and newly diagnosed myopic children will be eligible to participate in the 'spectacle compliance' assessment if they fulfil the following criteria:
Hyperopic cohort:
- Presence of hyperopia, defined as ≥ +2.00D in the more hyperopic meridian, in the more hyperopic eye by cycloplegic autorefraction.
Myopic cohort:
- Presence of myopia, defined as <-0.50D in the more hyperopic meridian, in either eye by cycloplegic autorefraction.
Exclusion criteria for the baseline and longitudinal assessment of reading performance and spectacle compliance.
Children in either cohort will be ineligible if they have:
- History of systemic disease or ocular disease and/or medications known to have an impact on accommodation.
- History of previous spectacle wear
Children in the hyperopic cohort will be ineligible if they have:
- Vision limitation in either eye for reasons other than hyperopia (including amblyopia defined as <6/12 in the better eye).
Sites / Locations
- The University of Zimbabwe, Faculty of Medicine and Healthcare SciencesRecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
No Intervention
Spectacles
No treatment
Based on the refraction results, spectacles will be prescribed at the baseline visit and worn throughout the study. Study participants with newly diagnosed hyperopia at baseline will undergo a reading assessment and near visual acuity check over six months, compared to age-, gender- and school-matched emmetropic controls. Spectacle compliance will be observed among newly diagnosed hyperopic and newly diagnosed myopic school children in Grades 2 and 4 primary school children, from Mashonaland Central province of Zimbabwe, at six weeks and 14 weeks from spectacle acquisition.
Age-, gender- and school-matched emmetropic controls will undergo a reading assessment at baseline and at six months.