Feasibility of a new 'balanced binocular viewing' treatment for unilateral amblyopia in children aged 3-8 years (BALANCE): results of a phase 2a randomised controlled feasibility trial.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the safety of dichoptic balanced binocular viewing (BBV) for amblyopia in children, plus feasibility, adherence, acceptability, trial methodology and clinical measures of visual function.

Design: We carried out an observer-masked parallel-group phase 2a feasibility randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Two study sites, a secondary/tertiary and a community site.

Daylight and Electric Lighting in Primary and Secondary School Classrooms in the UK-An Observational Study.

Only a few recent studies report direct assessment or monitoring of light levels in the indoor learning environment, and no consensus exists on minimum exposures for children's health. For instance, myopia is a common progressive condition, with genetic and environmental risk factors. Reduced daylight exposure, electric lighting changes, increased near-work for school children, greater academic focus, and use of display screens and white boards may have important detrimental influences.

Extended optical treatment versus early patching with an intensive patching regimen in children with amblyopia in Europe (EuPatch): a multicentre, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Amblyopia, the most common visual impairment of childhood, is a public health concern. An extended period of optical treatment before patching is recommended by the clinical guidelines of several countries. The aim of this study was to compare an intensive patching regimen, with and without extended optical treatment (EOT), in a randomised controlled trial.

Usability of an Eye Drop Delivery Aid for Single-Dose Instillation: Results from a Market Research Study.

Background: One of the challenges of treating chronic ocular diseases like vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC), glaucoma, and ocular surface disease is patient adherence to topical medication. To support correct eye drop instillation, a variety of delivery aids have been developed for both single-dose and conventional multi-dose containers.

Methods: To evaluate Dropaid Single-dose, an eye drop delivery aid designed for single-dose containers, a usability study was conducted on 30 parents and caregivers of patients with VKC.

Can children measure their own vision? A comparison of three new contrast sensitivity tests.

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of children measuring their own contrast sensitivity using a range of tablet- and paper-based tests.

Methods: Forty children aged 5-15 years with amblyopia (N = 10), bilateral vision impairment (N = 10) or good vision (N = 20) measured their own vision on a screen-based optotype test (Manifold), a gamified vision test (PopCSF) and a paper-based test (Spotchecks) in a laboratory with minimal supervision. Completion rate, test-retest repeatability, test duration and participants' preferences were recorded for each test.

Low concentration atropine and myopia: a narrative review of the evidence for United Kingdom based practitioners.

The prevalence of myopia is increasing across the world. Controlling myopia progression would be beneficial to reduce adverse outcomes such as retinal detachment and myopic maculopathy which are associated with increased axial length. Pharmacological control of myopia progression with atropine has been investigated since the 19th century and the benefits of slowing myopia progression are considered against the side-effects of near blur and photophobia.

Amblyopia-A novel virtual round table to explore the caregiver perspective.

Purpose: A survey aimed to capture the caregiver's perspective on the impact of amblyopia and its treatment on the child and family, as well as caregivers' views on the design and feasibility of clinical trials investigating dichoptic binocular therapies for amblyopia.

Methods: Parents of amblyopic children, patient advocates and healthcare professionals took part in a moderated, structured discussion on a novel virtual advisory-board platform.

Results: Seven parents of children with amblyopia, two patient organisation representatives, one ophthalmologist and one optometrist participated in the survey.

Providing multimedia information to children and young people increases recruitment to trials: pre-planned meta-analysis of SWATs.

Background: Randomised controlled trials are often beset by problems with poor recruitment and retention. Information to support decisions on trial participation is usually provided as printed participant information sheets (PIS), which are often long, technical, and unappealing. Multimedia information (MMI), including animations and videos, may be a valuable alternative or complement to a PIS.

31 Setting up a bank of primary cells lines of pediatric and adolescent sclera and choroid to study post-natal eye growth.

Twice as many teenagers in the UK are becoming short-sighted now, compared with the 1960s; many develop a dangerously high degree of short-sightedness ("progressive myopia") with a risk of sight-threatening conditions in adulthood, such as retinal detachment and glaucoma. The rise in short-sightedness is even more dramatic in the Far East, where over 95% of young men are now shortsighted. One crucial feature in short-sightedness is that the eyeball becomes longer, as the white coat of the eye (sclera) is becoming softer and stretchable.

"We know that our voices are valued, and that people are actually going to listen": co-producing an evaluation of a young people's research advisory group.

Background: Children and young people's (CYP) involvement is an increasing priority in UK healthcare and in heath research, alongside recognition that involving CYP in research requires different considerations to involving adults. Underpinned by children's rights and a co-production ethos this paper, co-authored with young evaluators, explores the learning from a co-produced evaluation of eyeYPAG, a young persons' research advisory group (YPAG) for eye and vision research based at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK.

Methods: A team of young evaluators, supported by the eyeYPAG facilitator, conducted focus groups and online surveys with YPAG members, their parents and carers, researchers, group facilitators and funders.

Novel Insights in the Management of Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC): European Expert Consensus Using a Modified Nominal Group Technique.

Introduction: Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a rare, severe allergic ocular disease, typically occurring in children and adolescents, that can have a significant impact on quality of life and lead to visual impairment. Long-term treatment may be necessary to tackle chronic inflammation and topical corticosteroid dependency must be minimised due to the risk of complications. There is a need for unified clinical guidance to aid the assessment, diagnosis and management of VKC across Europe.

Paediatric eye and vision research participation experiences: a systematic review.

Background: For children and young people with eye and vision conditions, research is essential to advancing evidence-based recommendations in diagnosis, prevention, treatments and cures. Patient 'experience' reflects a key measure of quality in health care (Department of Health. High Quality Care for All: NHS Next Stage Review Final Report: The Stationery Office (2008)); research participant 'experiences' are equally important.

Topical cyclosporine A 1 mg/ml for atopic keratoconjunctivitis: Five-year case series of 99 children and young people.

Purpose: To explore the effects of cyclosporine A (CsA) in the management of atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC).

Methods: Open single-group interventional consecutive cohort study (case series) at a single eye care facility in the UK. We reviewed the electronic patient records of 99 children and young people (CYP) aged 3.

Surgical interventions for bilateral congenital cataract in children aged two years and under.

Background: Congenital cataracts are lens opacities in one or both eyes of babies or children present at birth. These may cause a reduction in vision severe enough to require surgery. Cataracts are proportionally the most treatable cause of visual loss in childhood, and are a particular problem in low-income countries, where early intervention may not be possible.

Phase 2a randomised controlled feasibility trial of a new 'balanced binocular viewing' treatment for unilateral amblyopia in children age 3-8 years: trial protocol.

Introduction: Treatments for amblyopia, the most common vision deficit in children, often have suboptimal results. Occlusion/atropine blurring are fraught with poor adherence, regression and recurrence. These interventions target only the amblyopic eye, failing to address imbalances of cortical input from the two eyes ('suppression').

Management of Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis in Children in the United Kingdom: A Review of the Literature and Current Best Practice Across Six Large United Kingdom Centers.

Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a form of ocular allergy primarily affecting children. Considered a rare disease in Europe, its prevalence varies by geographic region and is poorly studied in the United Kingdom. There is considerable national variation in the management of VKC within the United Kingdom, risking misdiagnosis and delays to treatment for some children.

Crowding changes appearance systematically in peripheral, amblyopic, and developing vision.

Visual crowding is the disruptive effect of clutter on object recognition. Although most prominent in adult peripheral vision, crowding also disrupts foveal vision in typically developing children and those with strabismic amblyopia. Do these crowding effects share the same mechanism? Here we exploit observations that crowded errors in peripheral vision are not random: Target objects appear either averaged with the flankers (assimilation) or replaced by them (substitution).