Reading; Through the Eyes of a University Student

NCT ID: NCT04318106

Last Updated: 2024-07-11

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

ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

65 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2020-01-27

Study Completion Date

2025-06-30

Brief Summary

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This is a double-masked randomized controlled trial which aims to assess the effects of precision tinted spectacle lenses on visual stress symptoms within an undergraduate University student population.

Detailed Description

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The participants will be recruited from the undergraduate Ulster University student population. Those students who have been identified as potentially having visual stress will be invited to undergo screening tests to assess their eligibility to participate in the randomized controlled trial.

Visit 1:

Each consenting participant will undergo tests to assess their eligibility to participate in this study.

Provided the participant meets the inclusion criteria then they will undergo a baseline eye examination and reading tests including the Wilkins Rate of Reading test (WRRT).

The participant will then undergo colorimetry testing using the Intuitive colorimeter (Cerium TM) using the established procedure to individually measure the optimum chromaticity which alleviates visual stress symptoms for each participant. This will be the 'experimental' colour. A second colour will be measured at which visual stress symptoms will be present, this colour will not be aversive to the participant and will be as close to the 'experimental' colour as possible to aid masking. This will be the 'control' colour and it will be individually determined for each participant. Participants and researchers will be masked to which spectacles are 'control' and 'experimental' throughout the course of the trial.

Visit 2 \& 3:

The participant will be invited to return to collect one pair of spectacle with coloured lenses. Reading speed will be assessed using the Wilkins Rate of Reading Test (WRRT) and visual stress will be assessed using a symptom questionnaire and Pattern Glare Test (PGT) with and without the coloured spectacles. The participant will be asked to take the spectacles away and will be advised to wear the spectacles for concentrated tasks, including reading. The participant is free to choose when they wish to wear the spectacles. The participant will keep the spectacles for a minimum of six weeks, after this time they will be invited to return the spectacles and repeat measures of reading speed and visual stress will be assessed. Participants will be asked to document reading symptoms in an online diary and note the length of spectacle wear-time at the start and end of the 6-week wear period.

There will be a time lapse between visit 3 and visit 4 where the participant will have no coloured spectacles.

Visit 4 \& 5

The participant will return to collect the other pair of spectacles. Reading speed and visual stress will be assessed as in visit 2 \& 3. They will keep the spectacles for the same time period. They will be invited to return, at the end of visit 5 the participant will be able to chose their preferred pair of coloured spectacles to take away with them to keep.

Three months later the participant will be contacted to check if they are still wearing the coloured spectacles.

Conditions

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Visual Stress Meares-Irlen Syndrome Reading Difficulties

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

The participant will be given either the 'experimental' coloured spectacle lenses or the 'control' coloured spectacle lenses to wear for a minimum of ten weeks, the spectacles will be returned. A 'washout' period will occur and then the participant will be given the alternative pair of coloured spectacles to wear.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Investigators
The researcher will perform colorimetry testing to measure the chromaticity of the 'experimental' and 'control' coloured lenses.The 'experimental' and 'control' colour will be as similar in chromaticity as possible. The details of the 'experimental' and 'control' colour will be given to an external person who will randomly assign the order in which the spectacles will be collected by the participant. There is a significant time lapse between the colorimetry assessment where the 'experimental' and 'control' colours are measured and the collection of the first pair of spectacles.

Study Groups

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'Experimental' coloured spectacle lenses

Precision tinted lenses available from Cerium Technologies (TM) which will be the optimum chromaticity to alleviate visual stress symptoms. To be worn for a minimum of 10 weeks for concentrated tasks.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Precision tinted spectacle lenses

Intervention Type DEVICE

Precision tinted spectacles lenses (Cerium Technologies TM)

'Control' coloured spectacle lenses

Precision tinted lenses available from Cerium Technologies (TM) which will be individually determined as being sub-optimal to alleviate visual stress symptoms. This colour will be as similar to the 'experimental' colour as possible and will not be aversive to the participant. To be worn for a minimum of 10 weeks for concentrated tasks.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Precision tinted spectacle lenses

Intervention Type DEVICE

Precision tinted spectacles lenses (Cerium Technologies TM)

Interventions

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Precision tinted spectacle lenses

Precision tinted spectacles lenses (Cerium Technologies TM)

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* All consenting undergraduate University students, studying at Ulster University who have visual stress symptoms.

Exclusion Criteria

* Reduced visual acuity
* Uncorrected spectacle prescription
* Decompensating heterophoria
* Heterotropia
* Accommodative insufficiency
* Convergence insufficiency
* Ocular health abnormality
* Any participant currently using precision tinted lenses
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

45 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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University of Ulster

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Sara McCullough, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Ulster University

Julie-Anne Little, PhD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Ulster University

Locations

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Ulster University

Coleraine, Londonderry, United Kingdom

Site Status

Countries

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United Kingdom

References

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Wilkins AJ, Evans BJ, Brown JA, Busby AE, Wingfield AE, Jeanes RJ, Bald J. Double-masked placebo-controlled trial of precision spectral filters in children who use coloured overlays. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 1994 Oct;14(4):365-70.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 7845693 (View on PubMed)

Evans BJ, Stevenson SJ. The Pattern Glare Test: a review and determination of normative values. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2008 Jul;28(4):295-309. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-1313.2008.00578.x.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18565084 (View on PubMed)

Wilkins AJ, Jeanes RJ, Pumfrey PD, Laskier M. Rate of Reading Test: its reliability, and its validity in the assessment of the effects of coloured overlays. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 1996 Nov;16(6):491-7.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 8944196 (View on PubMed)

Allen PM, Dedi S, Kumar D, Patel T, Aloo M, Wilkins AJ. Accommodation, pattern glare, and coloured overlays. Perception. 2012;41(12):1458-67. doi: 10.1068/p7390.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23586285 (View on PubMed)

Singleton C, Henderson LM. Computerized screening for visual stress in children with dyslexia. Dyslexia. 2007 May;13(2):130-51. doi: 10.1002/dys.329.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17557688 (View on PubMed)

Evans BJ, Joseph F. The effect of coloured filters on the rate of reading in an adult student population. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2002 Nov;22(6):535-45. doi: 10.1046/j.1475-1313.2002.00071.x.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12477018 (View on PubMed)

Evans BJW, Allen PM, Wilkins AJ. A Delphi study to develop practical diagnostic guidelines for visual stress (pattern-related visual stress). J Optom. 2017 Jul-Sep;10(3):161-168. doi: 10.1016/j.optom.2016.08.002. Epub 2016 Nov 24.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 27890547 (View on PubMed)

Griffiths PG, Taylor RH, Henderson LM, Barrett BT. The effect of coloured overlays and lenses on reading: a systematic review of the literature. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2016 Sep;36(5):519-44. doi: 10.1111/opo.12316.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 27580753 (View on PubMed)

Wilkins A, Sihra N, Smith IN. How precise do precision tints have to be and how many are necessary? Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2005 May;25(3):269-76. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-1313.2005.00279.x.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15854076 (View on PubMed)

Harkin DL, Little JA, McCullough SJ. Reading through the eyes of a university student: A double-masked randomised placebo-controlled cross-over protocol investigating coloured spectacle lens efficacy in adults with visual stress. PLoS One. 2025 Jun 30;20(6):e0309625. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0309625. eCollection 2025.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 40587476 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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FCBMS-19-189

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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