The Northern Finland Birth Cohort Eye Study: Design and baseline characteristics

Abstract

BackgroundTo describe the rationale and design of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort (NFBC) Eye Study.MethodsThe NFBC Eye Study is a randomised prospective cohort study. The original NFBC study population consists of 12058 subjects born in the region of Lapland and the Province of Oulu. A postal questionnaire covering extensively the medical and socioeconomical background was sent to the 10300 subjects of the NFBC alive and residing in Finland. For the NFBC eye study the subjects were randomised to the screening group (50%) and the control group (50%). The screening protocol includes the following tests: automated and manifest refraction, best corrected visual acuity, central corneal thickness, intraocular pressure, Humphrey 24–2 perimetry, stereoscopic optic nerve head (ONH) and retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) photography and imaging with Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy (HRT), Scanning Laser Polarimetry (GDx) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT).Two ophthalmologists evaluate the ONH and RNFL photographs and the visual fields independently. All suspected glaucoma cases are re-evaluated by two independent glaucoma experts. HRT, GDx and OCT findings are assessed separately. In the future, both groups (100%) will be examined. The effectiveness and the cost-effectiveness of glaucoma screening will be calculated. The response rate of the questionnaire was 67% (n = 6855) and 871 randomised subjects had undergone the eye screening protocol by the end of April 2013.DiscussionThe trial is designed to address the following questions: what is the best combination of diagnostic tests for detecting glaucoma in an unscreened population, what are the benefits and disadvantages of the screening to the individual and the society and is glaucoma screening both effective and cost-effective. The prevalence, incidence and risk factors of glaucoma and other eye diseases will be evaluated, as well as their impact on quality of life.

Optic Nerve Parameters and Cognitive Function in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort Eye Study

“…Randomization was performed using Resampling Stats Software (Resampling Stats Inc., Arlington, Virginia, USA). 9 Altogether, 3070 randomized subjects took part in the eye examination protocol. The study was conducted following the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Ethical Committee of Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District.…”

“…The eye examination protocol has been published previously in detail. 9 There was a particular interest in the evaluation of glaucomatous damage. Therefore, the protocol included an assessment of the ONH and RNFL.…”

Evaluating refraction and visual acuity with the Nidek autorefractometer AR‐360A in a randomized population‐based screening study

“…The cohort was randomized into two groups: 50% underwent the eye examination and 50% were not examined. The main purpose was to evaluate the diagnostic methods and costeffectiveness of glaucoma screening as well as other ocular morbidity in a middle-aged Caucasian population (Saarela et al 2013). In addition to the meticulous ophthalmological imaging, the NFBC Eye study included the examinations of best-corrected visual acuity and visual field examinations with standardized automated perimetry.…”

Right services to right patients at right time in right setting in Tays Eye Centre

“…Related to the development of clinical care processes, eye services and leadership, health services research, health economics and secondary research (systematic reviews) continue to be important part of the research profile in the Tays Eye Centre (Tuulonen , ; Hagman ; Saarela et al. ; Tuulonen et al. ).…”