Predicting Manifest Astigmatism in Keratoconus Patients.
This study is looking at how we can better predict the right glasses prescription for people with keratoconus. Keratoconus is a condition where the cornea, the clear front part of your eye, thins and bulges forward, making it cone-shaped. This can cause blurry and distorted vision. Traditional glasses often don't fully correct this due to the eye's irregular shape. We are using a large database of patient information from the West of England Eye Unit, including glasses prescriptions and detailed eye scans, to train artificial intelligence (AI) models. The aim is for this AI to learn how to predict the best glasses prescription more accurately and quickly. This could save patients time and, for those who need eye surgery, help surgeons choose the best lenses for clearer vision afterwards.
At a glance
What is this study about?
Imagine the front clear part of your eye, called the cornea, like the clear window of a camera. Its job is to help focus light onto the back of your eye so you can see clearly. With keratoconus, this window starts to become thin and shaped like a cone instead of a smooth dome. This irregular shape makes light scatter, causing blurry and distorted vision.
Finding the perfect glasses prescription for someone with keratoconus can be tricky and often takes a lot of trial and error. This is because the standard measurements taken from the eye don't always match the glasses prescription that actually gives the best vision. This study aims to make this process much easier and quicker.
Researchers at the West of England Eye Unit have collected a lot of information, including glasses prescriptions and special scans of the cornea, from over 800 patients with keratoconus. They are using this information to teach a special type of computer program, called Artificial Intelligence (AI), to learn patterns. The hope is that this AI can then predict the best glasses prescription more accurately, based on corneal scans alone. If successful, this could mean less time spent trying different lenses for patients and better vision outcomes, especially for those considering eye surgery.
Key takeaways
- The study aims to improve how we find the best glasses prescription for people with keratoconus.
- It uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to learn from existing patient data.
- The goal is faster and more accurate glasses corrections.
- This could also help surgeons choose better lenses for surgery patients.
- The study uses past medical records; no new treatments or tests are involved for participants.
- Researchers hope to make vision correction easier and more effective for keratoconus patients.
Who may be eligible?
To be considered for this study, you would need to have received a diagnosis of keratoconus. You must also have had special eye scans, called topography, performed at the West of England Eye Unit, and these scans must have been done around the same time you had your glasses prescription checked.
There are a few reasons why someone might not be able to join. For instance, if your eye scans weren't clear enough to be useful for the study, you wouldn't be able to participate. Also, if you've had any eye surgery in the past, or if you are under 16 years old, you wouldn't be eligible for this particular study. The study is open to both men and women aged 16 and over.
Could this study suit you?
Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.
- Have I been diagnosed with keratoconus?
- Have I had eye scans (topography) at the West of England Eye Unit?
- Were my eye scans done around the same time as my glasses prescription check?
- Have I ever had eye surgery?
- Am I 16 years old or older?
What does participation involve?
This study is not actively recruiting patients to undergo new tests or treatments. Instead, it uses information that has already been collected from patients at the West of England Eye Unit. This means that if you are eligible, your participation would involve the researchers using previously gathered data – your existing glasses prescriptions and corneal scans – to train their AI models. You would not need to attend any extra appointments or have any new procedures done as part of this study. There is no specified duration for individual patient involvement, as it is based on existing records.
Potential risks and benefits
Locations (1)
- West of England Eye UnitVerified postcodeExeter, United Kingdom
Common questions
What is keratoconus?
Keratoconus is an eye condition where the clear front part of your eye (the cornea) gradually thins and bulges outwards, becoming cone-shaped. This can make your vision blurry and distorted.
Will I get new treatment in this study?
No, this study is using information that has already been collected from patients. You won't receive new treatments or have extra eye tests as part of this research.
What is 'AI' and how is it used here?
AI, or Artificial Intelligence, is a computer program that can learn from lots of information. In this study, AI is learning from past patient eye scans and glasses prescriptions to try and predict the best prescription more accurately in the future.
Why is it hard to find the right glasses for keratoconus?
Because the cornea is irregularly shaped, regular glasses can't always correct the vision perfectly. It often takes time and trial and error to find the best prescription that can give clearer vision.
Who is running this study?
This study is being conducted by researchers at the West of England Eye Unit.
How to find out more
Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.
Discussion
Community discussion
Powered by our forum at community.patient.info. Please be respectful — this is not medical advice.