Simple Spectacles for Adult Refugees on the Thailand–Burma Border

Vincent, Jerry E.

doi:10.1097/01.opx.0000239126.46172.80

Cited by 28 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Unlike the available reports on other RMS programs in developing countries, 13–15 this study had detailed longitudinal data on the acceptability of spectacle correction. The acceptability of RMS has been assessed for the first time in school-aged children in comparison with CS using a randomized trial design, with minimal crossover and few participants lost to follow-up (3%).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Randomized, Clinical Trial Evaluating Ready-Made and Custom Spectacles Delivered Via a School-Based Screening Program in China

Zeng

Keay

et al. 2009

Ophthalmology

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Purpose We sought to evaluate visual performance and satisfaction with ready-made spectacles (RMS) in Chinese school-aged children with uncorrected refractive error. Design Randomized, double-blind, clinical trial. Participants Junior high school students from urban Guangzhou, China, aged approximately 12 to 15 years with ≥1 diopter (D) of uncorrected spherical equivalent (SE) refractive error. Students were excluded with ≥2.00 D astigmatism, ≥2 D myopic anisometropia, and ≥1 D hyperopic anisometropia and ocular disease affecting vision. Methods Refractive error was determined by cycloplegic subjective refraction. Students were randomly assigned to receive RMS or custom spectacles (CS) and assessed after 1 month of use. We required 175 students to complete in each arm to be able to measure a 15% difference in compliance. Main Outcome Measures Compliance with spectacles lens wear, patterns of use, vision, symptoms, and perceived value. Results Screening identified 965 of 4607 (20.9%) students with reduced distance vision; 212 of the 965 (22.0%) refused evaluation and 187 of the 965 (20.8%) had <1 D of SE refractive error. Sixty-one (6.3%) were referred for further evaluation and the remaining 495 (51.3%) participated. Social, demographic, and ocular parameters were similar in the 2 groups. Average SE refractive error was −2.57±1.31 (mean value ± standard deviation [SD]). Spectacle vision (Snellen acuity, mean ± SD) was worse with RMS in the eye with lower SE (20/25−0.5±0.9 lines vs 20/25+1±0.7 lines; P = 0.004) and higher SE (20/25−2±1.2 lines vs 20/25+1±0.8; P<0.001). There were no differences (P>0.05) in the rate of use (94.3% vs 92.2%), wearing to the 1-month visit (46.9% vs 51.5%), planned use (93.3% vs 93.7%), value (89.5% vs 91.7% “moderate or high value or most valued possession”), or symptoms (blur, 21.1% vs 19.4% [P = 0.8] and other symptoms [P>0.2]). Conclusions Although visual acuity was better with CS, no difference was found in acceptability in this population of students with predominantly simple myopic refractive error. This study supports the use of RMS in a school-based refractive services program, saving costs and improving the logistics of service delivery.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Randomized, Clinical Trial Evaluating Ready-Made and Custom Spectacles Delivered Via a School-Based Screening Program in China

Zeng

Keay

et al. 2009

Ophthalmology

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“…It is known that the cost price of good quality spectacles can be low, and the authors anticipate that the cost of the components required to assemble S-Glasses would be considerably less than $3.00 per pair, making them relatively affordable in resource-poor regions of the world. 15,16 The cost of an autorefractor is not insignificant, however, it is anticipated that using autorefractors, rather than training refractionists, is a simpler and more scalable way to refract large numbers a The S-Glasses method uses a simple spherical equivalent corrections for patients with astigmatism less than 2.00D.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A method for the prescription of inexpensive spectacles by non-specialist healthcare workers: S-Glasses

Treacy

Treacy²,

Dimitrov

et al. 2013

Eye

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Purpose Globally, 153 million people are visually impaired from uncorrected refractive error. The aim of this research was to verify a method whereby autorefractors could be used by non-specialist health-workers to prescribe spectacles, which used a small stock of preformed lenses that fit frames with standardised apertures. These spectacles were named S-Glasses (Smart Glasses). Patients and methods This prospective, single-cohort exploratory study enrolled 53 patients with 94 eligible eyes having uncorrected vision of 6/18 or worse. Eyes with best-corrected vision worse than 6/12 were excluded. An autorefractor was used to obtain refractions, which were adjusted so that eyes with astigmatism less than 2.00 dioptres (D) received spherical equivalent lenses, and eyes with more astigmatism received toric lenses with a 2.50 D cylindrical element set at one of four meridians. The primary outcome was to compare S-Glasses vision with the WHO definition of visual impairment (6/18). Where astigmatism was 2.00 D or greater, comparison with spherical equivalent was made. Mixed-model analysis with repeated effect was used to account for possible correlation between the vision of fellow eyes of the same individual. Results S-Glasses corrected 100% of eyes with astigmatism less than 3.00 D and 69% of eyes with astigmatism of 3.00 D or greater. Spherical equivalent lenses corrected 25% of eyes with astigmatism of 2.00 À 2.99 D and 11% with astigmatism of at least 3.00 D. Discussion S-Glasses could be beneficial to resource-poor populations without trained refractionists. This novel approach, using approximate toric lenses, results in superior vision for astigmatic patients compared with the practice of providing spherical equivalent alone.

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“…Several humanitarian organizations are involved in spectacle provision in developing countries, and there is a growing literature on the rigorous evaluations of such programs. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Validated patient-reported outcome measures are an important part of such evaluations, in addition to objective measures such as distance visual acuity. Moreover, regulatory and funding agencies are increasingly calling for the use of patient-reported outcome measures in all fields of healthcare.…”

Section: Validation Of Visual Function Instrument In Indiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Validation of a Visual Function and Quality of Life Instrument in an Urban Indian Population with Uncorrected Refractive Error Using Rasch Analysis

Brady¹,

Keay²,

Villanti³

et al. 2010

Ophthalmic Epidemiology

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Revisions to existing instruments to measure visual function in persons with refractive error resulted in an instrument that conformed to the Rasch model. Identifying activities that are more difficult to perform with refractive error in this setting might further improve the instrument. The 16-item instrument was able to differentiate among levels of impairment due to uncorrected refractive error and could be used to assess refractive programs in similar settings.

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Simple Spectacles for Adult Refugees on the Thailand–Burma Border

Abstract: Training refugee health workers has allowed for sustainable, low-cost spectacle provision to a large population over an extensive geographic area in a challenging environment.

Cited by 28 publications

References 10 publications

A Randomized, Clinical Trial Evaluating Ready-Made and Custom Spectacles Delivered Via a School-Based Screening Program in China

A Randomized, Clinical Trial Evaluating Ready-Made and Custom Spectacles Delivered Via a School-Based Screening Program in China

A method for the prescription of inexpensive spectacles by non-specialist healthcare workers: S-Glasses

Validation of a Visual Function and Quality of Life Instrument in an Urban Indian Population with Uncorrected Refractive Error Using Rasch Analysis

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