Correcting Myopia Among Secondary School Children to Increase Academic High School Attendance Rates in Rural Communities

Launched by QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY, BELFAST · Aug 29, 2019

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the impact of providing free glasses to children in rural China who are short-sighted, with the goal of improving their chances of continuing their education in academic high schools. Many children in these areas struggle with vision problems and do not have access to glasses. The researchers want to see if giving these children free glasses, along with support from their teachers to encourage them to wear them, will result in more students attending academic high schools compared to those who only receive a prescription for glasses.

To participate in the trial, children in Year 1 classes (around ages 12-13) at selected middle schools will be included if they have significant vision problems that can be corrected with glasses. Those who can improve their vision to a better level with glasses will be eligible. Throughout the study, participants will receive either free glasses and encouragement to wear them, or just a prescription, and the researchers will track how many go on to academic high schools. They will also look at how often students wear their glasses and how this affects their learning. This research aims to provide strong evidence to convince the government to support free glasses for children, helping them succeed in school and improve their futures.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Year 1 classes (likely age 12-13 years) at the recruited schools
• • Have uncorrected (without glasses) visual acuity of ≤6/12 in both eyes;
• • Refractive error meets cut-offs shown to be associated with significantly greater improvement in visual acuity when corrected (myopia ≤-0.75 diopters (D, or astigmatism (non-spherical refractive error) ≥1.00 D);
• • Visual acuity can be improved to \>= 6/7.5 in at least one eye with glasses.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Presence of visually-significant ocular condition besides refractive error