NCT03752840

Brief Summary

The vast majority of blindness is avoidable. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 80% of cases of visual impairment could be prevented or reversed with early diagnosis and treatment. The leading causes of visual impairment are cataract and refractive error, followed by glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and diabetic retinopathy (DR). Loss of vision from these conditions is not inevitable; however, identifying cases early and linking cases with appropriate care remain significant challenges. To address the global burden of avoidable blindness, eye care systems must determine optimal strategies for identifying people with or predisposed to visual impairment beyond opportunistic screening. Outreach programs can prevent blindness both by screening for asymptomatic disease like age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), and glaucoma and case detection of symptomatic disease like cataract and refractive error. Eye care systems have developed numerous approaches to these identification methods, including screening using telemedicine and case detection via cataract camps or health worker models, but no studies have been conducted on the comparative effectiveness or cost effectiveness of these various approaches. Technology promises to greatly improve access to sophisticated eye care. AMD, DR, and glaucoma can result in irreversible vision loss, and early diagnosis and effective treatment can prevent progression. Thus, mass screening programs may prevent progression and improve the vision of a population. However, mass screening for eye disease is currently not recommended. Although self-evident that early detection can prevent blindness for an individual, no randomized controlled trial has been able to demonstrate that screening improves visual acuity at the regional level. However, recent technological advances promise to dramatically change the equation by allowing non-medical personnel to use mobile, easy-to-use retinal imaging devices to diagnose screenable eye diseases such as AMD, DR, and glaucoma. Mobile technology could also transform the way clinics communicate with their patients, improving linkage to and retention in care. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an ideal test for screening. OCT can be performed through an undilated pupil and is less subject to optical aberrations due to cataract than is fundus photography. OCT machines have pre-installed algorithms to screen for glaucoma, and major anatomical abnormalities can easily be detected even by novice technicians. The infrared image allows detection of referable diabetic retinopathy, and newer OCT angiography machines offer even more discrimination of early diabetic retinopathy. OCT machines are ever more portable, and could be feasibly used in mobile screening programs. The investigators propose a large cluster-randomized trial to compare two population level blindness prevention programs: (1) a state-of-the-art screening program employing OCT, fundus photography, and intraocular pressure testing to screen for glaucoma, DR, and AMD followed by enhanced linkage-to-care to the local eye hospital, and (2) a screening program involving only visual acuity assessment. An initial door-to-door census will assess baseline visual acuity in both study arms. The investigators will compare visual acuity between the two arms through a second door-to-door census 9 years later (primary outcome).

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
60,200

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
40mo left

Started Apr 2019

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress68%
Apr 2019Aug 2029

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

November 16, 2018

Completed
10 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

November 26, 2018

Completed
5 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

April 21, 2019

Completed
10.4 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

August 31, 2029

Expected
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

August 31, 2029

Last Updated

July 11, 2025

Status Verified

July 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

10.4 years

First QC Date

November 16, 2018

Last Update Submit

July 8, 2025

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Pinhole visual acuity (logMAR) in people aged 50 years and older

    Visual acuity will be assessed using the Peek Acuity mobile application during the final census.

    9 years

Secondary Outcomes (4)

  • Incidence of visual impairment due to AMD, DR, or glaucoma

    9 years

  • Bilateral blindness in people aged 50 years and older, defined as pinhole visual acuity worse than Snellen 20/400 (Metric Snellen worse than 6/120; logMAR worse than 1.3) in the better-seeing eye

    9 years

  • Presenting visual acuity (logMAR) in people aged 50 years and older

    9 years

  • Cost-effectiveness of the screening intervention

    9 years

Other Outcomes (3)

  • Bilateral visual impairment in people aged 50 years and older, defined as pinhole visual acuity worse than Snellen 20/60 (Metric Snellen worse than 6/18; logMAR worse than 0.48) in the better-seeing eye

    9 years

  • Bilateral presenting visual impairment in people aged 50 years and older, defined as presenting visual acuity worse than Snellen 20/60 (Metric Snellen worse than 6/18; logMAR worse than 0.48) in the better-seeing eye

    9 years

  • Bilateral presenting blindness in people aged 50 years and older, defined as presenting visual acuity worse than Snellen 20/400 (Metric Snellen worse than 6/120; logMAR worse than 1.3) in the better-seeing eye

    9 years

Study Arms (2)

Screening

EXPERIMENTAL
Other: Visual acuity (presenting and pinhole)Other: Optical coherence tomography (OCT)Other: Intraocular pressureOther: Active linkage to careOther: Fundus Photography

Case detection

ACTIVE COMPARATOR
Other: Visual acuity (presenting and pinhole)

Interventions

Presenting and pinhole visual acuity will be assessed using the Peek Acuity mobile application. Participants meeting referral criteria will be referred to the nearest eye care center or eye hospital.

Case detectionScreening

OCT will be used to image the anterior segment, the macula, and the retinal nerve fiber layer. The images will be assessed for abnormalities and participants meeting referral criteria will be referred to the local eye hospital.

Screening

Intraocular pressure will be measured using an iCare tonometer. Participants meeting referral criteria will be referred to the nearest eye care center or eye hospital.

Screening

Referred participants will be followed closely by study staff to ensure completion of follow-up visits.

Screening

Fundus cameras will be used to image the macula and optic nerve. The images will be assessed for abnormalities and participants meeting referral criteria will be referred to the local eye hospital.

Screening

Eligibility Criteria

Age50 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Located in catchment area of Bharatpur Eye Hospital or Lumbini Eye Institute
  • Reachable by non-4WD vehicle
  • Urban or peri-urban

You may not qualify if:

  • \- Local leaders unwilling to participate
  • Person level
  • years and older
  • Residing in the community during the time of the census
  • \- Unwilling to participate

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

University of California, San Francisco

San Francisco, California, 94158, United States

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

  • O'Brien KS, Stevens VM, Byanju R, Kandel RP, Bhandari G, Bhandari S, Melo JS, Porco TC, Lietman TM, Keenan JD; Group Information for the VIEW II Study Group. Cluster-randomised trial of community-based screening for eye disease in adults in Nepal: the Village-Integrated Eye Worker Trial II (VIEW II) trial protocol. BMJ Open. 2020 Oct 15;10(10):e040219. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040219.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Macular DegenerationDiabetic RetinopathyGlaucoma

Interventions

Visual AcuityTomography, Optical CoherenceIntraocular Pressure

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Retinal DegenerationRetinal DiseasesEye DiseasesDiabetic AngiopathiesVascular DiseasesCardiovascular DiseasesDiabetes ComplicationsDiabetes MellitusEndocrine System DiseasesOcular Hypertension

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Vision TestsDiagnostic Techniques, OphthalmologicalDiagnostic Techniques and ProceduresDiagnosisOcular Physiological PhenomenaTomography, OpticalOptical ImagingDiagnostic ImagingTomographyInvestigative Techniques

Study Officials

  • Jeremy Keenan

    University of California, San Francisco

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Krisianne M Aromin, BS

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
SCREENING
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

November 16, 2018

First Posted

November 26, 2018

Study Start

April 21, 2019

Primary Completion (Estimated)

August 31, 2029

Study Completion (Estimated)

August 31, 2029

Last Updated

July 11, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

De-identified data will be shared with other investigators upon request after the conclusion of the study. A request form will be available on Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/fgvrt/); all requests will be approved by the executive committee of the trial before sharing data. GPS data will not be shared.

Shared Documents
STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF
Time Frame
De-identified data will be shared after publication of the major findings of the study, which we anticipate will occur around 6 months after the study conclusion.
Access Criteria
De-identified data will be available upon request.
More information

Locations