Reading Analysis in Ophthalmologic Patients

Prim. Prof. Dr. Oliver Findl, MBA

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Age Related Macular Degeneration; Glaucoma; Diabetic Maculopathy; Epiretinal Membrane

Treatments: Device: EyeTracker

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03750149

TRC

Details and patient eligibility

About

Investigation of the reading parameters and fixation behavior in patients with different ocular diseases (age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic maculopathy, epiretinal membrane) and healthy subjects. In addition, fixation analysis and retinal sensitivity measurements will be done with a microperimeter in each subject.

Full description

Reading is a complex function. It requires a proper retinal image that is received by the brain. There it is analyzed for letter and word recognition and then the semantics is detected. Reading speed slows down when letters are blurred, or do not have enough contrast or luminance or when binocular fusion is hampered. Hence, it is obvious that reading ability is reduced in patients with various ocular diseases. Especially, pathologies effecting the posterior pole (central and paracentral vision) might impair reading parameters significantly.

Recently, the Eyetracker Eyelink 1000 (SR Research Ltd, Canada) became available. It´s application was described previously. Briefly, a high-speed infrared camera detects the position of eye (pupil and corneal reflex) and in turn the direction of gaze 500 times per second. During the calibration process the position can be linked to the position on a screen where, for instance, a text or a fixation target can be projected. Direction of gaze is recorded during the reading process and the gathered data are analyzed.

Fixation ability was assessed using Eyelink 1000 in patients with age-related macular degeneration. It was shown that fixation is related to visual function. The worse eye showed reduced fixation ability which is improved during binocular fixation. This study investigates reading parameters in patients with various ocular diseases.

Enrollment: 100 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 21 to 105 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age 21 and older
• Absence of ocular disease (Group 1)
• Present ocular disease (age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic maculopathy, epiretinal membrane/macular hole) as judged by the investigator (Group 2 - 5)
• Maximum of allowed cylinder-power in the spectacles: +1.50D

Exclusion criteria

• Ocular pathologies, that may interfere with study measurements, such as corneal scars
• In case of pregnancy (pregnancy test will be taken prior to inclusion into the study in women of reproductive age)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Diagnostic

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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100 participants in 1 patient group

Ophthalmologic Disease

Experimental group

Description:

Patients with glaucoma, AMD, diabetic maculopathy, epiretinal membranes, and healthy patients will undergo a reading analysis using the EyeTracker

Treatment:

Device: EyeTracker