Village-Integrated Eye Worker Trial II

NCT ID: NCT03752840

Last Updated: 2025-07-11

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

60200 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2019-04-21

Study Completion Date

2029-08-31

Brief Summary

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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).

Detailed Description

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The research will consist of a large cluster-randomized trial in which all clusters receive visual acuity screening during a baseline census, and then half subsequently receive screening with OCT, fundus photography, and intraocular pressure testing with an iCare tonometer. Participants with abnormal results will be referred to the local eye hospital for examination and treatment. Repeat visual acuity assessment will be performed 9 years later. Those with visual impairment at the time of the final census, defined as visual acuity worse than Snellen 20/60 (Metric Snellen worse than 6/18; logMAR worse than 0.48), will receive a comprehensive eye exam to determine the cause of visual impairment.

Specific Aim 1 - Visual Acuity: To determine whether an intensive screening program results in better visual acuity at 9 years than screening with visual acuity testing alone. The investigators hypothesize that individuals from clusters randomized to the intensive screening program will have better visual acuity compared to those receiving visual acuity testing alone.

Specific Aim 2 - Eye Disease: To determine whether an intensive screening program reduces the incidence of visual impairment due to AMD, DR, or glaucoma. The investigators hypothesize that incident visual impairment due to AMD, DR, or glaucoma will be less common in clusters randomized to the intensive screening program.

Conditions

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Age-related Macular Degeneration Diabetic Retinopathy Glaucoma

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

SCREENING

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Screening

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Visual acuity (presenting and pinhole)

Intervention Type OTHER

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.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT)

Intervention Type OTHER

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.

Intraocular pressure

Intervention Type OTHER

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.

Active linkage to care

Intervention Type OTHER

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

Fundus Photography

Intervention Type OTHER

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.

Case detection

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Visual acuity (presenting and pinhole)

Intervention Type OTHER

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.

Interventions

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Visual acuity (presenting and pinhole)

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.

Intervention Type OTHER

Optical coherence tomography (OCT)

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.

Intervention Type OTHER

Intraocular pressure

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.

Intervention Type OTHER

Active linkage to care

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

Intervention Type OTHER

Fundus Photography

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.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

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


* 50 years and older
* Residing in the community during the time of the census

Exclusion Criteria

\- Local leaders unwilling to participate

Person level


\- Unwilling to participate
Minimum Eligible Age

50 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Seva Foundation

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of California, San Francisco

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Jeremy Keenan

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of California, San Francisco

Locations

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University of California, San Francisco

San Francisco, California, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Krisianne M Aromin, BS

Role: CONTACT

(415) 476-1442

Facility Contacts

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Jeremy Keenan, MD, MPH

Role: primary

415-936-3164

Atnasia Mekonnen, MS

Role: backup

8186186681

References

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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.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 33060092 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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17-22776-2

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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